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:
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: 80,000
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 Ian Ransom and Liu Zhen)
("Countdown to Beijing Olympics" blog at blogs.reuters.com/china)
