China Olympics Athletics Events Showcase 'Bird's Nest' Stadium
By Adam Dacre
As hopes and expectations mount in the run-up to the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the eyes of the world will turn not only to the athletes from around the globe that will compete in the 302 events and 28 different sports that make up the program. They will also discover the innovative architecture that has been years in the planning -- including the Beijing National Stadium, popularly known as the 'Bird's Nest'.
A large number of spectators will discover the Stadium through the track and field events of the athletics schedule in the last ten days of the Games, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies that will be staged there. The 330m x 220m arena has been christened the 'Bird's Nest' because of the unusual and highly distinctive architectural style employed by prize-winning architects Herzog and De Meuron, working in collaboration with ArupSport and the China Architecture Design & Research Group.
The appearance of the building instantly explains its droll nickname: the facade of the building comprises an intricate grid-like structure. And given the concerns that have been expressed in recent months about the Chinese capital's problems with pollution, it's worth noting that the building has also earned plaudits for its environmentally friendly design that incorporates features such as a translucent roof that brings sunlight to the the grass inside the arena, a system for the collection of rainwater and passive ventilation.
The stadium, which has been nearly five years in construction, can accommodate up to 91,000 spectators and includes a shopping center and 'green area' as well as the seating bowl that will see the various competitive events. And although athletics events will take place there, it is of course not the only venue for the entire spectrum of the Games. In particular, soccer will be played in a variety of centers elsewhere in China, while equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong and sailing in the sea port of Qingdao.
The building of the stadium has not been without controversy. In January 2008 the UK newspaper The Sunday Times reported on rumors of the accidental deaths of at least ten construction workers since work on the project began. The Games, with their official slogan of 'One World One Dream', lay emphasis on the Olympic ideal of international amity through sporting competition. But it's likely that contentious issues such as human rights and the environment will make them a hotspot for political debate as well as sporting attention.