Connecting threads on the Silk Road

Architectural art, intellectual technologies and international sports standards: we discover the unique features of the National Football Stadium

All-weather, trust-based and strategic — this is the spirit in which co-operation between Belarus and China is developing today. Despite the geographical distance, the parties are actively collaborating on a wide range of issues. All this has been made possible thanks to the strong friendship between the leaders of the two countries — Aleksandr Lukashenko and Xi Jinping. Active political dialogue contributes to the growth of mutual trade. Investments from the Celestial Empire are also showing good momentum. The Great Stone Industrial Park, the production of passenger cars, the modernisation of cement plants — the list of joint large-scale projects goes on. And now it has been supplemented by another landmark: the National Football Stadium has been built in Minsk.

National Football Stadium presented to people of Belarus by China                 belta 

Strategic collaboration

It is worth noting that the National Football Stadium is a technical and economic assistance project from the Chinese government. The heads of the two states paid close attention to the construction and personally promoted the project. In April 2019, the leaders of Belarus and China jointly presented the architectural model of the facility, and a year later, construction of the stadium officially began. The countries worked closely together to overcome many difficulties, such as the coronavirus pandemic and Western sanctions. It took almost five years to successfully complete the project and hand it over to the Republic of Belarus. The construction of the stadium will further enhance the country’s sports infrastructure and deepen exchanges and co-operation between the two countries in the fields of culture and sports, according to Zhang Wenchuan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Belarus,

“The football stadium is a project that was personally cared for and promoted by the leaders of China and Belarus. It is particularly worth noting that President Aleksandr Lukashenko issued special decrees twice, thus providing maximum support for the successful implementation of the project.”

The Ambassador emphasised that the football stadium has many distinctive features, “It is a modern, professional football arena of the highest quality, equipped with all the necessary functions and advanced technologies. All this creates the best conditions in Belarus for holding international football competitions, training athletes and encouraging the population to lead an active lifestyle.”

Unique design 

The stadium is an iconic structure, blending elements of Belarusian culture and symbolising Sino-Belarusian friendship. During construction, the Chinese side actively implemented the concept of green and sustainable development, considering the environmental requirements of both countries. In accordance with the local climatic characteristics of Belarus, innovative technologies have been applied to reduce energy consumption and cut future operating and maintenance costs. In the landscape design, special attention was paid to preserving existing trees, and construction work was carried out with minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem. 
The total number of seats in the stadium is 33,145. It incorporates an international advanced turf reinforcement system, as well as turf irrigation to maintain optimal humidity, rainwater drainage system, soil heating for frost protection, and underground ventilation to regulate the microclimate. These technologies create ideal playing conditions even in the cold, guaranteeing year-round events. The designers also took care of the spectators. An unobstructed view is available from every seat. A two-tier stand and separate seats have been incorporated. 
High comfort is also provided in the changing rooms for players. They are designed to meet the needs of professional footballers, including ergonomic seating for relaxation, massage rooms and plunge pools, creating the best conditions for recovery. 
It is impossible to get lost on the stadium grounds. An intelligent navigation system is used here: entrances and exits are numbered by direction, and signs ensure the rapid movement of spectators.

Highest standards

China was not chosen as the contractor by chance. The country has accumulated extensive experience in the construction of sports facilities. Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), the general contractor for the National Football Stadium in the Republic of Belarus, has constructed many iconic sports facilities in China. These include, for example, the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games — the National Stadium (aka Bird’s Nest), a key facility for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games — the National Speed Skating Oval (aka Ice Ribbon), and the Sanya International Sports Industry Park. 
The National Football Stadium is built in accordance with the technical requirements and standards of FIFA and UEFA, as revealed by Sha Yi, head of the National Football Stadium technical and economic assistance project in the Republic of Belarus, implemented by Beijing Urban Construction Group,  

“The stadium has implemented an international advanced turf reinforcement system, and four key systems have been installed. These are turf irrigation to maintain optimal moisture levels, drainage to remove rainwater, soil heating to protect against freezing, and underground ventilation to regulate the microclimate. These technologies create ideal playing conditions even in cold climates ensuring year-round events can be held.”

He also reported that the spectator stands are designed with unobstructed views, “A two-tier stand and individual boxes are used to ensure that all spectators, regardless of their location, get a clear view and a vivid experience of watching the match. An intelligent navigation system has also been used. The entrances and exits are numbered by direction, and the signs are approved by the official authorities of the Republic of Belarus and comply with local standards, ensuring rapid movement of spectators.” 
Regarding the architecture, the stadium comprises 472 three-dimensional bent steel lamellas and 1,860 different types of glass panels patterned to represent the flag of Belarus, as well as a double-layered system of perforated membranes. “This makes the stadium a striking architectural landmark, easily recognisable in the Minsk cityscape,” added Sha Yi.

“Green and sustainable development is one of the key concepts. We have adopted a number of measures to make the stadium a building that harmonises with nature, including the use of efficient structural solutions, the latest and easily maintained materials, and climate-adapted design approaches.”

Incidentally, the National Football Stadium is not just a professional football arena but also a multifunctional sports and cultural complex. In addition to meeting the requirements for high-level competitions, the stadium provides a gym for visitors and commercial premises. All of this guarantees the efficient operation of the facility both during competitions and in periods when they are not taking place. Inside the stadium, there are premium areas for viewing matches and commercial zones, including VIP and VVIP boxes. On the fourth and fifth floors, a media centre is specially equipped with modern facilities for broadcasting competitions, holding press conferences and interviews, ensuring the smooth operation of the media.
Furthermore, the stadium includes a commercial recreation area, providing high-quality services for spectators and business events during competitions, which further enhances the stadium’s commercial value and operational efficiency.
Regarding grassroots sports, the stadium fully considers the needs of the local population. A dedicated running track is planned around the facility, freely accessible on a permanent basis, designed for the daily training and recreation of city residents. This increases the stadium’s daily utilisation rate, provides high-quality space for sports activities, which promotes the development of mass fitness and makes the stadium a true hub of sports culture.

By Vladislav Sychevich