The National Stadium and the National Aquatic Center, two showcase venues of the 2008 Olympic Games, will take shape by the end of this year, project managers said on Wednesday.

"Up to now 80 per cent of the steel structure has been installed and we plan to finish construction by the end of 2006," said Hu Zhengquan, deputy manager of the National Stadium.

"The construction process is strictly in accord with the original plan and the whole project will be completed by the end of next year."

The National Stadium, dubbed "Bird's Nest" for its giant latticework structure of metal girders, will have a seating capacity of 91,000. It will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as track and field events and the football finals.

And as the "Bird's Nest" takes shape this year, the National Aquatic Center, known as the "Water Cube", will also be clad in it' s eye-catching membrane.

"The steel structure of the 'Water Cube' has been finished and we are preparing to install the outside membrane. Work will start in the latter half of this month," said Kang Wei, manager of the project.

"The membrane structure in the outside walls of the swimming center will be completed by the end of this year and the whole project will be finished by October 2007."

The National Aquatic Center will hold aquatic events such as swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming.

According to the 2008 Project Construction Headquarters Office, all the new venues needed for the Beijing Games are now under construction and the main structures of most will be completed within this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)