Construction workers will finally pick up their tools again in June at the National Olympic Stadium, according to an official from the 2008 Olympic Games Venues Construction Headquarters in Beijing.

Work began in December 2003, but was suspended last July to make major design changes to satisfy safety and financial issues.

"According to the schedule, the construction work in the center area of the National Stadium will reach ground level in June," said a construction official. "The building of the steel framework will start in the middle of September."

The National Stadium, dubbed the "Bird's Nest" for its giant latticework structure of irregularly angled metal girders, will host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijiing Olympic Games.

The design has been altered with an eye toward safety, quality, function, time and cost. The sliding roof that was part of the original design has been ruled out.

The main framework of the stadium is now scheduled to be complete in May 2006, with the basic form of the Bird's Nest taking shape in August or September.

Meanwhile, progress is being made on the National Swimming Center, known as the "Water Cube."

"The concrete construction for the Water Cube started last October and will be finished this June," said Li Aiqing, general manager of the Beijing State-owned Assets Management Corp., the proprietor of the venue.

The outer structure is scheduled to be done within the year, with all construction basically complete by September 2007. A series of test operations and events will follow.

Vice Minister of Supervision Huang Shuxian is heading a team to ensure that the Olympic construction projects are free from corruption. He inspected the two venues on Monday.

Liu Zhihua, head of the 2008 Venue Construction Headquarters, promised Huang to be "honest in performing their official duties and to carry this principal through to the end."

(China Daily March 22, 2005)