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Olympic Update

Watercube Membrane Structure Completed

Building of the membrane structure of the outside layer of the National Aquatics Center (Watercube) was completed on December 26, 2006. With the closure of the outside membrane layer project, the installation of the centre’s inner cushions is now under way, in a synchronized manner, with the indoor fit-up and decoration. The facility will be ready for use at the end of 2007.

The material of the membrane structure is called ETFE, or ethylene-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, which is being used for the first time in China. It is also the largest and most complicated membrane system in a single building project internationally. The blue bubbles outside the National Aquatics Center are made of more than 3,000 separate air cushions. They look like singular construction, but are, in fact, relatively independent of each other. Their design will allow convenient replacement, when needed.

The project features efficient applications of clean energy technologies, said Yu Xiaoxuan, deputy director of the Venue and Environment Department of BOCOG.

The Watercube absorbs solar radiation and reduces thermal loss. Sunlight serves as the thermal source for heating swimming pool water. The maximum use of natural ventilation and lighting in the environmental design of the project’s outside surface ensures temperature and humidity control in different sections of the swimming pool and the provision of a comfortable indoor environment for athletes and spectators.

He said the architects skilfully took water use into consideration, ensuring the maximum and efficient utilization and recycling of water and the protection of its quality.

The swimming pool is 13 metres deep, according to project manager Sun Hongzhuang. The temperature of swimming pool is projected to be kept at 28 degrees Celsius, suitable for swimmers, Sun said. The 13-metre depth of the pool plays a part in this.

During the Olympic Games, the venue can comfortably seat 17,000 spectators. “We’ve worked to ensure that all our spectators can see the athletes' performances,” said Sun.

English Olympic E-Map Launched

The English electronic map for the official Web site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games debuted on January 16.

This marks the first time that an Olympic Games official Web site has used multilanguage electronic GIS (geographic information system) technologies in connection with an Olympic Games. The Chinese version was released on January 23, 2005.

The dynamic map features special columns on four hot topics, including Olympic competition venues, Olympic-licensed stores, subway stations, and traditional dwelling blocks in Beijing.

The map also serves as a practical city guide platform with 12 wide-ranging categories of classified information available on it, such as the governmental institutions, health and medical facilities, academies, entertainment, media, shopping, real estate, chambers, sports venues, scenic spots, catering, and hotels and restaurants listings.

Each category is divided into several sub-categories to particularly identify the potential needs of the users. The “shopping” column, for instance, includes shopping malls, supermarkets, shopping centres, furniture centres, bookstores, and others.

One of its highlights is that users can choose to zoom in or out on the map to best fit their preferences.

In the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games, more information and functions will be integrated into the map. Users will be able to acquire competition information, basic introduction of the venues, and weather information as well.

Qomolangma Mountaineers Prepare for 2008 Olympic Torch Relay

On a 4,800-metre-high mountain in Tibet, members of the Tibetan Mountaineering Team are undertaking tense and hard training and mock exercises in preparation for the Beijing Olympic torch relay, which will enable them to scale the top of Mount Qomolangma (known in the West as Mt. Everest), the world’s highest mountain.

In line with the requirements of BOCOG, among the nearly 100 members of the Tibetan Mountaineering Team, 55 were picked for the mission through strict selection; 70 percent of them have backgrounds in mountain climbing at altitudes of 8,000 metres or above.

The Olympic Flame for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be fetched from the ancient Mt. Olympus in Greece in March 2008, and then travel through the five continents and all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, and will be carried up to Mount Qomolangma. This will be the first time that the Olympic torch has been taken to this peak.