Olympic Ice: How It's Made and Maintained

Olympic ice is special ice for winter sports. People called 'ice masters' make this ice. They work hard to make the ice perfect for athletes.

How do they make the ice? First, they put insulation on the floor. Then they add special mats to keep the ice cold. Next, they add water. The water becomes ice. They paint it white and add lines for sports like ice hockey.

The ice must stay very cold, between -5 and -4 degrees. Special machines called Zambonis clean the ice. They make it smooth again. Different sports need different types of ice. Ice hockey needs hard ice. Figure skating needs softer ice. The ice masters check the water quality too. They want the ice to be clear and strong.