the Water Cube (The National Aquatic Center) for the Beijing Olympics 2008

this building looks MAD COOL! ~_~

wish i could go see the Beijing Olympics 2008! >__<

-------- http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/12/07/299193/__039_Water_Cube__039__debuts_in_Beijing__85__done.htm (The National Aquatic Center, also known as the Water Cube, is 85 percent complete. The stadium, covered by over 3,000 air cells, looks like a big blue cube. It's scheduled to host swimming and diving events during the Beijing Olympics 2008.)

WATER Cube, a major sports venue for the Beijing Olympics 2008, is now 85 percent complete, and was open to media this morning, Xinhua News Agency said.

The stadium, to host swimming and diving events, is scheduled to be fully complete by end of the year, said an official with the organizing committee of the Beijing Olympics during a press conference this morning.

The National Aquatic Center, more widely known as the Water Cube, is a joint design of China State Construction and an architecture company from Australia.

The 2.4 billion cubic meter stadium has more than 3,000 air cells, which each use double film technology to ensure the indoor temperature, brightness and sound quality, said Wu Jingjun, an engineer from the project.

The stadium will be put into use next October, the report said.

The National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, which is to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the games, has a completed main structure and is also undergoing exterior "beautifications," the official said.

Construction of another 45 sports venues and service facilities for the Beijing Olympics are underway, including 25 match halls, 15 training venues and five service facilities.

Meanwhile, a baseball field in the city's Fengtai District and a track field in Chaoyang District have been upgraded and are open to the public.

The official said several indoor stadiums on local university campuses, which are planned to hold minor events during the Games, are expected to be put into use before schedule.

The 42 residential buildings, which are divided into four areas --- A, B, C and D, in the Olympic Village will have completed structures by end of the year, along with 16 residences for journalist.

Workers have dug out an area to create a hill and a lake in the Olympic Forest Park. "They are now gardening and arranging water pipes," said the official.

Beijing has planned 62 news roads and four bridges to increase the city's transport capability during the Games period. Now, 20 roads and two bridges have been constructed and can be put into use soon.