Construction site of the National Stadium draws strong interest of the international visitors.

Kevan Gosper gives his autograph to construction workers.

   Beijing, May 31, 2005 - Top officials of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gave a thumbs-up to the construction of the Olympic venues in Beijing.

   "This wonderful architecture (the National Swimming Center) will soon appear in front of people. Therefore, I am satisfied," said Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the Coordination Commission. Gosper's comment reflected the feelings of several Coordination Commission members who inspected the Olympic construction sites in Beijing.

   The National Stadium, dubbed the "Bird's Nest," will be completed by the end of 2007, and will host a series of events prior to the 2008 Olympic Games. The underground structure of the National Stadium is to be completed in June this year.

   The main structure of the National Swimming Center, also dubbed the "Water Cube," will be finished this July. This will be followed by construction on its membrane structure in November. The project is due for completion around October, 2007.

   Gosper said he was content with the progress of construction of the two symbolic Olympic venues for Beijing 2008. Despite the current slowdown of venue construction, Gosper expressed the confidence that the venues would be completed right on schedule.

   "We are looking forward to running pre-Games events in these venues in a year," Gosper said.

   BOCOG Executive Vice President Yu Zaiqing said the Olympic venues are technologically advanced.

   Yu, also a member of the IOC Executive Board, said the National Swimming Center is the biggest swimming center in the world and has adopted state-of-the-art technology and materials in its construction. He added that the National Swimming Centre is a fine example of "High-tech Olympics."

Members of the Coordination Commission visit construction site of the National Swimming Center.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Philip Craven (1st right) inspects construction site of the National Swimming Center.