After the National Day golden week, the Bird's Nest will still be open to the public while undergoing alterations. Visitors with tickets will be allowed access to the Olympic Central Zone, although the Water Cube will remain closed for internal work.
According to Li Hang, chairman of the Beijing CITIC Consortium Stadium Operating Company, there will be 80,000 tickets available each day during the National Day holiday, when security checks will still be operational. Visitors will be able to access the stadium track and turf, and take photos with the Olympic cauldron as the background.
In accordance with the requirements of the International Olympic Committee, the cauldron will be kept on display during the National Day golden week. "But taking safety into consideration, it might be removed in the future," Li said.
"In the stadium, we'll also arrange for actors to have interactive performances with visitors."
Visitors can buy KFC fast food in the Bird's Nest, where quality foods of various styles are expected to be available in the future.
Li also pointed out that they may abandon the plan to move the Beijing Guo'an Football Club into the Bird's Nest, due to the poor performance of Chinese football teams in the Olympic Games. Even in the peak of the season, Guo'an will not have priority use of the facility. Clubs will have access to the stadium based on ability and willingness to pay.
Additionally, revenue-generating performances will be organized in the future.
(China.org.cn by Wang Wei, September 25, 2008)
