Fan Ning works as a national technical official for the biathlon event at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. [Photo by Fan Ning for Ningbo Evening News]

Fan Ning, deputy director of the training department at Ningbo No 2 Youth Amateur Sports School, is now working as a national technical official (NTO) at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. For him, the hard work has been worth it.

Fan has been working in the outdoor arena for the biathlon event since Feb 5, recording the laps athletes complete as well as their fouls. The arena is cold at about minus 20 degree Celsius, and most of the competitions are scheduled at night. Despite this, Fan and his colleagues stay at the arena for several hours every day.

To guard against the cold weather, Fan wears several layers of clothes, but frost has covered his hat, mask and even eyelashes.

"It's so freezing that our feet are almost numb from the cold," said Fan, "And we can't leave even when there is no event going on. We have to stay while the athletes train at the arena. But it's worth it!"

In his spare time, Fan watches other competitions. He was extremely excited when they won the competition.

He added, "I hope that winter sports athletes from Ningbo will also participate in the Winter Olympics in the future."