Five facts about 'Bird's Nest'
2008-08-05 18:29
Beijing - China's National Stadium, nicknamed the
"Bird's Nest" and one of the two iconic venues for this year's
Beijing Olympics, will host the Games's opening ceremony on
Friday.
Here are five facts about the stadium:
* Construction began on Dec 24, 2003, the same day as the
neighbouring "Water Cube" National Aquatics Centre. The first
sporting event - an IAAF 20km race walk won by Australian
Jared Tallent - was held on April 18, 2008, 112 days ahead of
the opening ceremony.
* Occupying 258 000 square metres and seating 91 000
people, it will stage the opening and closing ceremonies,
athletics competition and soccer finals during the Games.
* It cost 3.5 billion yuan ($500.7m), used 42 000
tonnes of steel and involved the relocation of 4 707 residents
from 2 043 households in the surrounding area.
* Construction was suspended in 2004 after complaints that
it was costing too much. Some 9 000 seats, 12 000 tonnes of
steel and the retractable roof were cut from the design.
Further delayed for 14 weeks because, officials said, of the
complexity of preparing for the opening ceremony.
* After the Games it will become the home stadium of
Beijing Guoan Football Club and an auction will be held for the
naming rights. It will cost 40 to 50 million yuan ($5.72m - $7.15m a year to run.