Systematic progress has been made in the construction of all 2008 Olympics competition venues, training
venues and auxiliary facilities, it was announced at a regular
press briefing held in Beijing on Thursday.
Wu Jingjun, chief engineer of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Project
Construction Headquarters Office said the safety and quality of the
projects has been paramount.
Up to now, he said, the number of Olympic venues and related
projects under construction stands at 45, including 25 competition
venues, 15 training venues and 5 Olympic-related projects. In
addition, Fengtai Softball Field (a renovated project) and the
track field of Chaoyang Sports Center (a training venue) are ready
for use.
Updating on the venues to be constructed from scratch, Wu
announced the following:
With the successful welding of the main steel structures on
August 31, the removal of the supporting steel beams on September
17 and the hoisting of the steel structure on November 30,
construction on the National Stadium's main bulwark structure has
been fully completed. Construction of the main stadium, also called
the "Bird's Nest," is shifting to the installation of membranes,
retro-fits and decorations, installation of electro-mechanical
equipment and the exterior engineering project.
-- The National Aquatics Center: The main steel structures have
been completed, the installation of the membrane structure is in
smooth progress, whilst the walls and external roof membranes are
expected to be finished by the end of this year.
-- The National Indoor Stadium: Work on the main structure and
steel structure is complete, the steel roof and exterior decoration
are scheduled to be done by the end of this year.
-- Wukesong Indoor Stadium: Steel structure completed,
installation of the roof and curtain walls are well underway, with
the exterior decoration expected to be completed by the end of this
year.
-- China Agriculture University Gymnasium, Beijing University of
Technology Gymnasium, Peking University Gymnasium and the Beijing
Science and Technology University Gymnasium: Steel-reinforced
concrete structures and steel structures complete with the metal
roofs and curtain walls under construction.
-- Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park: Excavation of the racing
courses finished with attention now shifted to water reservation
and experimentation, with other separate projects under
construction or decoration.
-- Beijing Shooting Range Hall: Interior decoration
underway.
-- Laoshan Velodrome: Decoration and installation of equipments
underway.
-- The Olympic Green Tennis Center: Construction of the field's
concrete structure is being done, with the main concrete structure
set for completion by the end of the year.
Turning to the projects under renovation and expansion, Wu
said:
-- Fengtai Softball Field: Ready for use.
-- Workers' Stadium and Workers' Indoor Arena: Dismantlement and
reinforcement work in progress.
-- Beijing Shooting Range Hall CTF: Construction on the main
body, firing pit and range infrastructure in progress.
-- The Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Olympic Sports Center
Gymnasium, Ying Tung Natatorium and Capital Indoor Stadium:
Structural reinforcement and expansion of the existing venues
underway.
-- Laoshan Mountain Bike Course: Structural construction of the
Complex Service Building completed.
-- Beihang University Gymnasium and Beijing Institute of
Technology Gymnasium: Renovation and expansion set to be started
this month.
On the temporary venues, the chief engineer said:
-- Fencing Hall (located inside the National Conference Center):
Construction underway.
-- Beach Volleyball Ground in Chaoyang Park: Basic construction
finished, steel structures of the main competition ground and the
warm-up ground are being installed.
-- Hockey Field in the Olympic Park: Basic construction
finished, steel structures of the main competition ground being
installed.
-- Shooting Range in the Olympic Park: Basic construction
finished.
-- Wukesong Baseball Field: Basic earthwork done with the steel
structure for the stands being installed.
-- BMX Field, Urban Cycling Road Course and Triathlon Venue:
Construction of BMX Field is planned to start by the end of this
year, construction on Urban Cycling Road Course and Triathlon Venue
to start after March 2007.
Referring to the training venues, he said:
-- Track Field of Chaoyang Sports Center is ready for use while
another 15 projects, including the training field in the Olympic
Sports Center, the Yard of Capital Indoor Stadium and training
venues at district or county levels are being renovated. Five
venues will be constructed at the end of this year with another 24
venues due to be launched in 2007.
Speaking of the Olympic-related facilities, Wu said:
-- The steel structure of the National Conference Center has
been done, and construction on the secondary structure and the
installation of the mechanical and electrical equipments are in
full progress. Work on the roof and exterior decoration is expected
to be completed by March 2007.
-- The main structure of the Digital Beijing Building has been
finished, work on the initial decoration and installation of
mechanical and electrical equipments is being done, the exterior
decoration is to be completed by the end of this year.
-- The Olympic Village's 42 residential buildings in the four
zones are in full progress, with the construction of the concrete
structure being scheduled to be completed by the end of this year,
and followed by decoration.
-- The over-ground structure of the 16 apartment buildings of
the Media Village is well underway.
-- The excavation of the lake and the mound work of the Olympic
Green have been finished and the re-plantation and water system are
underway.
Wu said there are 62 roads and 4 bridges to be constructed
around Olympic venues. As of today, 51 roads and 3 bridges are
under construction, with 20 roads and 2 bridges already open to
traffic. Construction of two more roads and one bridge are to be
launched by the end of this year and another 9 roads in 2007.
Wu said 2006 saw many technological problems solved at the sites
of Olympic projects, and the three Olympic concepts, 'Green
Olympics, People's Olympics and High-tech Olympics' carried out.
The engineers, technicians and workers put forward numerous
innovative proposals to save land, energy, water and materials.
What was done in 2006 laid a sound foundation for 2007 when all the
Olympic projects will be completed.
(beijing2008.com December 8, 2006)
