Olympic Venues Open to Public

The curtain has fallen on a splendid Beijing Olympic Games. Some people are still savouring good memories from the Games, while some who did not get a chance to view the Games in person would like to visit some of the venues used. A common concern lingers in many people’s minds: How will these Olympic venues be used after the Games? Will ordinary people have a chance to visit these venues, even though there are no competitions taking place there now? Regardless, just visiting the venues allows people to share in the Olympic experience, as we’ve seen crowds outside the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube on weekends since the Games closed.

Answers to these and other questions came on September 22, 2008, during a media briefing given by Beijing Tourism Administration. Some of the Beijing Olympic venues will open to the public beginning September 29 to October 5, including the Olympic Green central area, the southern part of the Olympic Forest Park, Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, the National Indoor Stadium and the international area of International Olympic Village.

While some Olympic venues have fallen on hard times following previous Games, this will not happen in Beijing. Still, in light of past experience outside China, one can forgive people for wondering what the full Olympic legacy will be.

In fact, Beijing planned thoroughly for post-Games uses of its Olympic venues to ensure that its Olympic investment pays off for many years to come.

 

Bird’s Nest to Host Sports Competitions, Art Performances

 

For many people, the Bird’s Nest is the symbol of Beijing Olympic Games, no matter whether before or after the Games. It has been listed as one of the ten wonders in architecture in the new century by TIME Magazine, and it allowed the breaking of many world records during the Games. It was the focus of the world. And now, everyone can see it.

Among those planning to use the stadium is the Beijing Guo’an Football Club, which will make the Bird’s Nest their home ground; the Bird’s Nest will also host some famous football clubs from around the world to play on this cherished ground.

In addition, the Bird’s Nest will become a large cultural and entertainment centre and will host some large performances. Of course, according to this usage, the Bird's Nest needs some added amenities; so hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and clubs will be introduced.

 

Water Cube Becomes Water Park

 

The people will be allowed to swim in the swimming pool where Michael Phelps made Olympic history. But the swimming pool will take up only 20 percent of the Water Cube’s space. Most of the other parts will be converted into a water-based theme park. There were 17,000 seats during the Games, including 11,000 temporary seats. After the Games, these temporary seats will be removed; freed spare space will be used for entertainment and body-building facilities.

An artificial surfing beach, slide board, artificial waves and other entertainment facilities will turn the Water Cube into the largest water entertainment centre in Beijing. People will be able to enjoy seaside activities such as those found in Qingdao, Dalian or other coastal cities without having to leave town.

The alteration of Water Cube will begin during the Chinese New Year and will take about one year. But you won’t have to wait too long to view the Water Cube: on September 30, a large symphonic concert is going to be staged there.

 

NBA Games in Wukesong Basketball Gymnasium

 

The appearance of Yao Ming and the US Redeem Team in the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium (Wukesong) made this place a hot venue during the Olympic Games. Even though the Games here have concluded, people still hope that the players of the NBA (National Basketball Association) will return again and again to this gymnasium.

The Beijing Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center, NBA China and AEG (The Anschutz Entertainment Group) will cooperatively run the this gymnasium. Annually, many NBA’s exhibition games, pre-season games and regular season games will be held here.

The operators will also organize large vocal concerts and art performances. The competition and performance plan for this gymnasium has already been arranged to 2009; plans for 2009 include 100 competitions and performances. In October 2008, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne will give a concert here, and an NBA exhibition game will be staged here as well. It’s said that Wukesong Basketball Gymnasium will be built like the Hong Kong Coliseum.

 

Other Venues

 

Twelve new venues were used during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Most of the venues were built at universities. Now, most of these venues will be opened to students and residents, such as the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, Peking University Gymnasium and China Agricultural University Gymnasium.

The sand brought to Beijing from Hainan Province for the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground will become part of an urban beach park to serve Beijing residents. The water sports facilities in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park will become a summer resort and entertainment place. The Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Court will serve as the home court for the China Open, but can also be used by ordinary citizens. In addition to offering athletic training and competitions, the Laoshan Mountain Bike Course will also serve the citizens for the weekends’ bicycle exercise and travel.

 

Useful to know:

 

The central area of the Olympic Green will open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from September 29 to October 5. Residents and travellers can enter the Olympic Green for free with the tickets issued by the Beijing Tourism Administration. But for entering the Olympic venues and the international area of International Olympic Village, a ticket purchase is necessary.

The Olympic Forest Park will open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. From September 25 to 28, it opened on a trial basis.

Beijing’s residents can apply for free visit tickets in their local communities, but there are no ticket booths for this purpose around the Olympic Green. The Beijing Municipal Office for Promoting Socialist Ethics is in charge of issuing tickets. Enterprises may also apply to it for tickets.

Tickets are sold at:

Emma Ticketmaster

WWW: http://bj.emma.cn

Address: North door of Beijing Workers’ Stadium, 1 kilometre east of Dongsishitiao Subway Station

Time: 7 a.m.–7 p.m., September 22–October 5

Beijing Tennis Center

Address: 500 metres south of Zhaogongkou Qiao, Nan Sanhuan Zhonglu

Time: 10 a.m.–7 p.m., September 22–28

Cheng Xiang Hua Mao Shopping Center

Address: Northwest exit of the Beijing Subway’s Gongzhufen Subway Station (Line 1)

Time: 10 a.m.–7 p.m., September 22–28

Daguanlou Cinema

Address: 500 metres south of the southwest exit of the Beijing Subway Qianmen Subway Station (Line 2)

Time: 10 a.m.–7 p.m., September 22–28

Beijing West Railway Station

Venue: at the ticket check of east-west exit, first floor, Beijing West Railway Station

Ticket Consulting Hotline: +86 10 5192 7202

Web site: http://www.bjwmb.gov.cn

Consulting Time: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.,

 September 23–28

The venue visiting tickets consist of combined tickets and single tickets. About 120,000 tickets will be issued each day, including 80,000 for the Bird’s Nest, 12,000 for the Water Cube, 20,000 for the National Indoor Stadium and 8,000 for the central area of International Olympic Village.

Ticket Prices:

General admission ticket: 100 yuan, for Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, National Indoor Stadium and the central area of International Olympic Village

Ticket:

Bird’s Nest: 50 yuan

Water Cube: 30 yuan

National Indoor Stadium: 20 yuan

The central area of International Olympic Village: 20 yuan