(Yicai Global) June 19 -- China has started building work on the country's first venue dedicated to the sport of curling ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The 33,000-square-meter arena, known as the Ice Altar, is located in the capital's Haidian District and will be ready by 2019, state-backed China Youth Daily reported.

The venue will also be used for games and training for multiple Winter Olympics events including ice hockey and figure skating, while ordinary citizens will also be able to use the facility to take part in ice-sports.

"In contrast to ordinary winter sports arenas, the Ice Altar is equipped with various heat units such as anti-condensation hot water in the air-conditioning system and in the floor," an official said, adding that the stadium will employ a specially-designed heat recovery system to reduce the energy consumption.

Authorities will also install an intelligent self-control system at the location to maintain an ice temperature between minus-3 degrees Celsius and minus-8 degrees Celsius.

The 24th Winter Olympics will take place in Beijing and the neighboring city of Zhangjiakou in Hebei province in February 2022.

Editor: William Clegg