The handball competition at the Hangzhou Asian Games is set to run from September 24 to October 5. So far, 22 teams from 15 different countries and regions, comprising both men’s and women’s teams, are participating, competing for a total of two gold medals. The Hangzhou Asian Games Handball Arena, located on the Xiaoshan campus of Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU), is one of the newly constructed venues for this year’s Asian Games. The design, with its eye-catching “water curtains” hanging from the ceiling to the ground, has caught a lot of attention and brought a touch of traditional Jiangnan charm to the event.

Zhu Yifeng, deputy head of the Media Group at ZJNU’s Xiaoshan Campus, said, “When designing this venue, our team drew inspiration from the Qiantang River and Jiangnan silk to create the concept of ‘water curtains.’ This concept resonates with the poetic essence of misty Jiangnan and reflects the urban character of Hangzhou. It also symbolizes Hangzhou’s rapid growth in the internet era and enhanced connectivity.”

CCTV reporter Ren Meimei described, “On the second-floor corridor outside the handball arena, you’ll find these vertical ‘water curtains.’ They serve a dual purpose – not just as decorations but also with practical benefits. Similar to blinds, they help insulate, reduce glare, and enhance overall indoor visual comfort.”

Handball, with its origins in Denmark, is a sport that combines elements of both basketball and football. Handball demands that athletes run, jump, and make throws on the field, involving frequent physical contact and intense competition.

The arena has 2,244 seats, each offering spectators a clear view of a spot 1 meter above the farthest edge of the handball court. This design allows spectators to see every move of the athletes, achieved through the construction of asymmetrical two-sided stands, the result of extensive data research in the early stages by the design team.

Zhu Yifeng further explained, “The Zhang Xianliang structure is a system with a large span, primarily composed of the main beam, support rods, and cables. It boasts a wide span, lightweight construction, and high stiffness. Venues designed using this structural system have no pillars in the middle, resulting in a clean, spacious appearance, and excellent visibility.”

The venue was designed with post-event use in mind right from the initial construction phase. The handball venue, originally built as a wooden floor basketball court according to FIBA standards, is equipped with specialized PVC flooring for the Hangzhou Asian Games, converting it into a handball competition venue. After the Asian Games, the main arena can be adapted for various sports, such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, Judo, and more. The auxiliary arena can also accommodate a variety of sports equipment and fitness gear to meet the diverse needs of the entire school’s faculty and students. (By Ren Meimei—CCTV News Client)

杭州亚运会手球项目比赛时间为9月24日—10月5日，截至目前，共有来自15个国家（地区）的22支男、女代表队参赛，将产生2枚金牌。位于浙江师范大学萧山校区的杭州亚运会手球馆，是本届亚运会12个新建场馆之一，单是“条条水幔”垂落、充满江南韵味的外观，就吸引了不少人驻足。

浙江师范大学（萧山校区）场馆群媒体副指挥长 朱毅峰：我们这个馆在设计的时候，设计团队就从钱塘江水和江南丝绸中抽象出了“水幔”的意象，跟烟雨江南的韵味，和杭州的城市气质是吻合的，而且还更象征着杭州在互联网时代、在互联互通中快速发展的城市形象。

总台央视记者 任梅梅：在手球馆室外的二层走廊，一条条垂直的“水幔”，不仅仅是装饰品，更有着实际的作用，就像百叶窗一样，能够起到隔热的效果，另外还可以减少眩光，提高室内视觉的舒适度。

手球起源于丹麦，是综合篮球和足球特点发展起来的球类运动，以“追逐”和“争夺”为主要特色。手球运动需要运动员在赛场上跑动、跳跃、投掷，身体接触频繁、对抗性激烈。

场内2244个座位，每个座位都可以让观众看到手球场地最边线上方1米的位置，运动员的一举一动都可以一览无余。这样的效果来源于设计团队前期大量数据研究后，所建造的不对称的两面看台。

浙江师范大学（萧山校区）场馆群媒体副指挥长 朱毅峰：张弦梁就是一种大跨度的结构设计体系，主要由主梁，撑杆还有拉索三部分组成，具有跨度大、重量轻、刚度高的特点。用这种结构设计的场馆，四周中间都没有支柱，所以整洁清爽，视野开阔。

此外，场馆在建造之初还充分考虑了赛后利用的情况，手球馆场地其实是按国际篮联标准做的木地板篮球场。杭州亚运会期间，场上铺设专用的PVC地板，成为手球比赛场地。亚运会后，主馆可改造为篮球、排球、羽毛球、乒乓球、柔道等场地，副馆也可摆放各种比赛器材及健身器材等，满足全校师生的不同需求。（作者： 记者 任梅梅 供稿单位： 央视新闻客户端）