Ice-technical infrastructure for Winter Olympics

The ice-technical infrastructure for the curling competitions as well as the ice hockey and the curling training surfaces at the Winter Olympics in Beijing were supplied by ISS Ice Sports & Solar.

The Winter Olympics in Beijing was the preliminary crowning glory of ICEGRID® system’s success story which was developed and patented by today’s managing director and son of the founder, Said Hakim. Since 2016 the ISS Ice Sports & Solar was working towards its first Olympic appearance. CEO Said Hakim looks back: “As inventors of the EPDM ice mat, today known as the TÜV-certified ICERACK® ice rink system, and the TÜV-certified ICEGRID® system as well as four decades of experience building ice rinks, we actually thought that we had seen and experienced almost everything. But despite IIHF and WCF World Championships, Winter & Summer Outdoor Hockey Games, mobile ice rinks on the Red Square and London’s Somerset House, frozen ice landscapes for Harry Potter in the Pinewood Studios, ice figure skating shows around the world and ice arenas on several continents, we quickly realised that working for the Winter Olympics is a different story.”

ISS Ice Sports & Solar met the persons responsible for Beijing for the first time at the men’s Curling World Championship 2016 in Basel realised by ISS with ICEGRID®. The Chinese delegation had a good look at the technology on-site and spoke to the persons responsible and the ice technicians about their experiences. Afterwards the Chinese delegation travelled to Germany for more talks and a factory tour. ISS Ice Sports & Solar made clear that they would only use the best ice quality and the most sustainable system for the curling competitions in Beijing. The selection process took years and included a test setup in the Water Cube Beijing. But ISS could finally convince the IOC’s international experts concerning ice quality and sustainability of the ICEGRID® system.

Said Hakim explains the characteristic features: “Particularly for curling the ice quality is more important than for other ice sports. Because even the smallest temperature difference influences the curling stone. During curling games directions and length will be controlled by the curling broom and the warming of the ice surface. The ISS ICEGRID® system ensures, besides many other things, the most consistent ice temperature.”

ICEGRID® – a system for all applications

The customer can choose between the ICEGRID® Classic (plastic tube) and ICEGRID® Plus+ (stainless steel). The installation is suitable for year-round use of the ice, or the customer can opt for a multi-floor or artificial turf surface with the ICEGRID®-Multicourt-Upgrade. Both are fixed ICEGRID® components and must be neither set up nor dismantled. ICEGRID® was developed to be permanently installed for decades; also available is a “semi-permanent” use with removal and reintegration later.

Said Hakim places importance on this statement: “As a family business ISS is committed to sustainability; it is the only company in the sector that has been working 100% climate-neutrally (certified) for the past five years and offers both ice rink systems climate-neutrally. The manufacturing is invariably and 100% ‘Made in Germany’.“ (STADIAWORLD, 29.07.2022)

Homepage: ISS Ice Sports & Solar