Beijing

Beijing National Stadium

• Also called the Bird’s Nest because of how it looks (ring-like with crisscross structures.  Hmmm ... reminds me of the Durian in Singapore ;)

• Completed building in March 2008.

• It will be the venue for the main track and field competitions, and for the opening and closing ceremonies.

• In 2002, Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition.  It was won by Herzog & de Meuron, in collaboration with ArupSport and China Architecture Design & Research Group.  Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, was the Artistic Consultant.

• Construction cost 4 billion yuan (about USD $500 million)

• Construction started in March 2004, but was stopped because of the high construction cost.  Works resumed in August 2004.

• Olympic Capacity: 91,000

• Post Olympic Capacity: 80,000

• The stadium uses 258,000 square metres of space.

•  It was built using 36 km of unwrapped steel, weighing a total of 45,000 tonnes.