Systematic progress has been made in the construction of all 2008 Olympics competition venues, training venues and auxiliary facilities, it was announced at a regular press briefing held in Beijing on Thursday.

Wu Jingjun, chief engineer of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Project Construction Headquarters Office said the safety and quality of the projects has been paramount.

Up to now, he said, the number of Olympic venues and related projects under construction stands at 45, including 25 competition venues, 15 training venues and 5 Olympic-related projects. In addition, Fengtai Softball Field (a renovated project) and the track field of Chaoyang Sports Center (a training venue) are ready for use.

Updating on the venues to be constructed from scratch, Wu announced the following:

With the successful welding of the main steel structures on August 31, the removal of the supporting steel beams on September 17 and the hoisting of the steel structure on November 30, construction on the National Stadium's main bulwark structure has been fully completed. Construction of the main stadium, also called the "Bird's Nest," is shifting to the installation of membranes, retro-fits and decorations, installation of electro-mechanical equipment and the exterior engineering project.

-- The National Aquatics Center: The main steel structures have been completed, the installation of the membrane structure is in smooth progress, whilst the walls and external roof membranes are expected to be finished by the end of this year.

-- The National Indoor Stadium: Work on the main structure and steel structure is complete, the steel roof and exterior decoration are scheduled to be done by the end of this year.

-- Wukesong Indoor Stadium: Steel structure completed, installation of the roof and curtain walls are well underway, with the exterior decoration expected to be completed by the end of this year.

-- China Agriculture University Gymnasium, Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, Peking University Gymnasium and the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium: Steel-reinforced concrete structures and steel structures complete with the metal roofs and curtain walls under construction.

-- Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park: Excavation of the racing courses finished with attention now shifted to water reservation and experimentation, with other separate projects under construction or decoration.

-- Beijing Shooting Range Hall: Interior decoration underway.

-- Laoshan Velodrome: Decoration and installation of equipments underway.

-- The Olympic Green Tennis Center: Construction of the field's concrete structure is being done, with the main concrete structure set for completion by the end of the year.

Turning to the projects under renovation and expansion, Wu said:

-- Fengtai Softball Field: Ready for use.

-- Workers' Stadium and Workers' Indoor Arena: Dismantlement and reinforcement work in progress.

-- Beijing Shooting Range Hall CTF: Construction on the main body, firing pit and range infrastructure in progress.

-- The Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Ying Tung Natatorium and Capital Indoor Stadium: Structural reinforcement and expansion of the existing venues underway.

-- Laoshan Mountain Bike Course: Structural construction of the Complex Service Building completed.

-- Beihang University Gymnasium and Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium: Renovation and expansion set to be started this month.

On the temporary venues, the chief engineer said:

-- Fencing Hall (located inside the National Conference Center): Construction underway.

-- Beach Volleyball Ground in Chaoyang Park: Basic construction finished, steel structures of the main competition ground and the warm-up ground are being installed.

-- Hockey Field in the Olympic Park: Basic construction finished, steel structures of the main competition ground being installed.

-- Shooting Range in the Olympic Park: Basic construction finished.

-- Wukesong Baseball Field: Basic earthwork done with the steel structure for the stands being installed.

-- BMX Field, Urban Cycling Road Course and Triathlon Venue: Construction of BMX Field is planned to start by the end of this year, construction on Urban Cycling Road Course and Triathlon Venue to start after March 2007.

Referring to the training venues, he said:

-- Track Field of Chaoyang Sports Center is ready for use while another 15 projects, including the training field in the Olympic Sports Center, the Yard of Capital Indoor Stadium and training venues at district or county levels are being renovated. Five venues will be constructed at the end of this year with another 24 venues due to be launched in 2007.

Speaking of the Olympic-related facilities, Wu said:

-- The steel structure of the National Conference Center has been done, and construction on the secondary structure and the installation of the mechanical and electrical equipments are in full progress. Work on the roof and exterior decoration is expected to be completed by March 2007.

-- The main structure of the Digital Beijing Building has been finished, work on the initial decoration and installation of mechanical and electrical equipments is being done, the exterior decoration is to be completed by the end of this year.

-- The Olympic Village's 42 residential buildings in the four zones are in full progress, with the construction of the concrete structure being scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, and followed by decoration.

-- The over-ground structure of the 16 apartment buildings of the Media Village is well underway.

-- The excavation of the lake and the mound work of the Olympic Green have been finished and the re-plantation and water system are underway.

Wu said there are 62 roads and 4 bridges to be constructed around Olympic venues. As of today, 51 roads and 3 bridges are under construction, with 20 roads and 2 bridges already open to traffic. Construction of two more roads and one bridge are to be launched by the end of this year and another 9 roads in 2007.

Wu said 2006 saw many technological problems solved at the sites of Olympic projects, and the three Olympic concepts, 'Green Olympics, People's Olympics and High-tech Olympics' carried out. The engineers, technicians and workers put forward numerous innovative proposals to save land, energy, water and materials. What was done in 2006 laid a sound foundation for 2007 when all the Olympic projects will be completed.

(beijing2008.com December 8, 2006)