(BEIJING, April 7) -- Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) on Thursday called for innovative spirit in the construction of Olympic venues in Beijing.

   Taking a site inspection of the two key Olympic projects, the National Stadium, dubbed Bird's Nest and the National Aquatics Center or Water Cube, Liu debriefed project manager's report on the progress of the construction.

   When he knew that Chinese researchers and technicians have independently developed their own technologies and resolved very difficult problems, Liu urged the builders to make the mega projects contemporary fine works of independent innovation.

   "We need to better apply and protect the technologies possessing intellectual property rights, and let them play their role in other Olympic projects," he said.

   It is reported that technologies such as thick steel-plate welding at the National Stadium were innovated by the Chinese technical forces, who are also capable of dealing with the ETFE membrane structures at the National Aquatics Center.

   Of the 31 competition venues planned for Beijing, 20 are being built and all the venues will be ready by the end of 2007.

   Construction of the National Stadium, where opening and closing ceremonies of the 29th Olympiad will be held, has moved into full swing. Sixteen of the 24 trusses have been erected and installation of the internal main trusses is being done. Meanwhile the steel structure for the walls of the National Aquatics Center is being installed.