FACTBOX: Venues for the 2008 Beijing Games

(Reuters) - The following are key facts on the 16 new, 8 temporary and 13 existing venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which begin on Friday:

NEW VENUES:

- National Stadium: (ceremonies, athletics, soccer)

Construction began: December 24, 2003

Completed: first test event on April 18, 2008

Capacity: 80,000 permanent, 11,000 temporary

Nicknamed the "Bird's Nest"

- National Indoor Stadium (artistic gymnastics, trampolining, handball)

Construction began: May 28, 2005

Completed: November 22, 2007

Capacity: 18,000 permanent, 2,000 temporary

- National Aquatics Centre (swimming, diving, synchronized swimming)

Construction began: December 24, 2003

Completed: delivered on January 28 2008

Capacity: 6,000 permanent, 11,000 temporary

Nicknamed the "Water Cube"

- Beijing Shooting Range

Construction began: July 13, 2004

Completed: July 28, 2007

Capacity: 2,170 permanent, 6,430 temporary

- Laoshan Velodrome (track cycling)

Construction began: October 30, 2004

Completed: December 2007

Capacity: 3,000 permanent, 3,000 temporary

- Beijing Olympic Basketball Stadium

Construction began: March 29, 2005

Completed: January 14, 2008

Capacity: 14,000 permanent, 4,000 temporary

- Shunyi Rowing/Canoeing Park

Construction began: May 2005

Completed: delivered on July 28, 2007

Capacity: 1,200 permanent, 25,800 temporary

- Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium (badminton, rhythmic gymnastics)

Construction began: June 30, 2005

Completed: September 30, 2007

Capacity: 5,767 permanent, 1,741 temporary

- China Agriculture University Gymnasium (wrestling)

Construction began: September 15, 2005

Completed: delivered on August 18 2007

Capacity: 6,000 permanent, 2,500 temporary

- University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium (judo, taekwondo)

Construction began: November 18, 2005

Completed: November 2007

Capacity: 4,080 permanent, 3,932 temporary

- Peking University Gymnasium (table tennis)

Construction began: September 17, 2005

Completed: December 2007

Capacity: 6,000 permanent, 2,000 temporary

- Olympic Green Tennis Centre

Construction began: March 23, 2006

Completed: delivered on October 1, 2007

Capacity: 17,400

- Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre

Construction began: May 2004

Completed: March 2008

Capacity: 9,000

- Qinghuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium (soccer)

Construction began: May 2002

Completed: July 2004

Capacity: 33,000

- Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium (soccer)

Construction began: August 2003

Completed: August 16, 2007

Capacity: 60,000

- Shenyang Olympic Sports Centre Stadium (soccer)

Construction began: March 1, 2006

Completed: July 2007

Capacity: 60,000

TEMPORARY

- Olympic Green Hockey Field (hockey)

Construction began: December 28, 2005

Completed: August 2007

Capacity: 17,000

- Olympic Green Archery Field (archery)

Construction began: December 28, 2005

Completed: August 2007

Capacity: 5,384

- Fencing Hall (fencing, modern pentathlon)

Construction began: April 28, 2005

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 5,900

- Wukesong Baseball Field

Construction began: December 22, 2005

Completed: August 2007

Capacity: 15,000

- Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground

Construction began: December 28, 2005

Completed: August 2007

Capacity: 12,200

- Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue

Construction began: December 30, 2006

Completed: August 2007

Capacity: 4,000

- Triathlon Venue

Construction began: April 2007

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 10,000

- Urban Road Cycling Course

Construction began: April 2007

Completed: April 2008

Capacity: 3,000

EXISTING

- Olympic Sports Centre Stadium (modern pentathlon)

Renovation began: April 1, 2006

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 38,000 permanent, 2,000 temporary

- Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium (handball)

Renovation began: April 1, 2006

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 5,000 permanent, 2,000 temporary

- Workers' Stadium (soccer)

Renovation began: April 18, 2006

Completed: February 2008

Capacity: 62,000

- Workers' Indoor Gymnasium (boxing)

Renovation began: December 23, 2005

Completed: November 2007

Capacity: 12,000 permanent, 1,000 temporary

- Capital Indoor Stadium (volleyball)

Renovation began: May 18, 2006

Completed: November 2007

Capacity: 17,500

- Ying Tung Natatorium (water polo, modern pentathlon)

Renovation began: April 1, 2006

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 4,852

- Laoshan Mountain Bike Course

Renovation began: May 31, 2006

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 2,000 temporary seats, 15,000 standing

- Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium (volleyball)

Renovation began: February 8, 2007

Completed: September 2007

Capacity: 5,000

- Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium (weightlifting)

Renovation began: January 31, 2007

Completed: December 2007

Capacity: 3,400 permanent, 2,600 temporary

- Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field

Renovation began: March 24, 2006

Completed: August 2007

Capacity: 3,394 permanent, 1,605 temporary

- Fengtai Softball Field (softball)

Renovation began: July 28, 2005

Completed: July 2006

Capacity: 5,000 permanent and 5,000 temporary seats

- Hong Kong Equestrian Venue (equestrian)

Renovation began: start of 2007

Completed: May 2007

Capacity: 20,000

- Shanghai Stadium (soccer)

Renovation began: 2006

Completed: 2007

Capacity: 56,000

(Compiled by Padraic Halpin; )

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