Great sporting events, such as the Olympics and Paralympics, are opportunities for countries to showcase innovation, infrastructure, and ambition, often resulting in spectacular and visionary projects. These initiatives can enhance host cities and, at times, even push the limits of imagination.
This will be the case at the 2029 Winter Asian Games in Trojena, Saudi Arabia new project, where snow will be brought to the desert and where the Webuild Group will help build three dams to create a freshwater lake.
In this article, we revisit some of the most surprising ideas born around the Olympics in recent decades.
The Snow of Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics
Beijing 2022, the first China Winter Olympic Games, was the first edition to rely heavily on artificial snow. This challenge is similar to the one faced by the 2029 Asian Winter Games, which will take place in the Saudi Arabian desert, as mentioned above.
Building an Olympic City from Scratch for Sochi 2014 (Olympics in Russia)
To host the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Russia transformed the seaside resort of Sochi into a modern Olympic city. The entire infrastructure for the 2014 Olympics was built from the ground up, in a colossal undertaking that garnered both admiration and controversy due to its costs and environmental impact.
Olympic Park and Urban Regeneration of East London during London 2012 Olympics
London 2012 is remembered as a model of urban redevelopment. The former industrial area of Stratford, in the east of the city, was transformed into a modern Olympic Park, featuring new sports facilities, green spaces, infrastructure, and housing. After the London Olympics, the area became a vibrant and sustainable new neighbourhood.
The Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube of Beijing 2008, the First China Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics marked China’s entry onto the global stage: the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center) became architectural icons, symbols of China’s ambition.
Megaproject for the Japanese Shinkansen High-Speed Train and Highway at Nagano 1998 Olympics
For the 1998 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Nagano, Japan made significant investments in infrastructure, including the extension of the Shinkansen high-speed train to Nagano and the construction of a new highway. These projects improved the region’s accessibility, leaving a lasting legacy for tourism and local transportation.
