A towering metal mill overlooking a 2022 Beijing Olympic venue grew to become the topic of debate on-line after many viewers mistook it for a nuclear energy plant.

The mill looms over the Massive Air Shougang venue, the place Olympians compete in snowboarding and freestyle Massive Air occasions.

Throughout the Massive Air occasion Monday, some Olympic observers turned to social media to indicate their confusion—and generally outrage—in regards to the construction after NBC accurately recognized it as a closed metal mill. Many mistook it for a nuclear energy plant resulting from its related look, with its smokestacks resembling cooling towers.

The venue was constructed forward of the 2022 Olympics for the comparatively new Massive Air occasion, which options athletes driving a car down a slope whereas performing methods within the air.

The location of the venue was house to the previous Shougang Group metal mill, which was the primary state-owned metal plant in China. It helped propel the nation into being one of many world's leaders in metal manufacturing, in line with the Related Press.

Nonetheless, some viewers stated the scene appears to be like like a "dystopian hellscape."

"Feels fairly dystopian to have some form of nuclear facility because the backdrop for this Massive Air snowboarding occasion," tweeted @LindsayMpls.

"Wow. The American NBC commentator simply described the positioning "it was a metal mill." wtf has occurred to our American information media? If it appears to be like like a nuclear reactor, smells like a nuclear reactor... It is a NUCLEAR REACTOR," wrote @DebBro6.

"The one factor about this that does not slap is that these cooling towers tricked me into considering this was a nuclear plant as a substitute of an previous metal metal mill," wrote @katimcf.

Is that a Nuclear Energy cooling tower (with an Olympic emblem!) subsequent to the 'large air' soar? Can NBC movie some dystopian [movie] for yucks?" wrote @JimCor317.

China closed the manufacturing unit forward of the 2008 Summer season Olympics. Since then, the positioning has been transformed right into a metropolis oasis that includes greenery and ponds between previous factories and equipment, in line with the Related Press.

One of many manufacturing unit's previous blast furnaces was changed into a steampunk-style occasion house with retailers, workplaces and a museum, the Related Press reported. Architects intend to show one of many towers into a marriage venue. The Beijing Organizing Committee workplace can be positioned within the park.

Olympics Big Air Venue
Many individuals mistook the Olympics’ Massive Air venue, pictured in December 2021, for a nuclear energy plant website resulting from its resemblance to cooling towers. It's truly a former metal mill.Kevin Frayer/Getty Pictures

Olympians have reacted to the venue with combined emotions.

American freeskiier Nick Goepper instructed the AP that the venue "feels prefer it was created in a digital world, in a online game."

French freestyle skier Antoine Adelisse instructed Reuters: "The primary time I used to be on the highest I used to be a bit upset, as a result of after we're on the prime we often see a lot of mountains. However when the lights get on, it is actually wonderful."

Newsweek reached out to the Worldwide Olympic Committee for remark Tuesday morning. This story shall be up to date with any remark.