Well holes are the trend and will continue to be since it is exactly the same people involved and 99% again for London and so on! Afterall how many different companies can you contact to ask if they have experience for producing Olympic opening ceremony!!!
As for cauldron a bit of inside info as its not secret it will not be coming from pitch hole that much I can tell you and only that!:banana:

It's not so much a trend as 'well, let's do this right since we are building from scratch.' As early as Atlanta 1996, whose main stadium (Turner Field today) was built from scratch, an infield pit with passages to the sides was included in its plans.

Athens, however, added that pit (for the lake, etc.) since their stadium was already a decade old before the major 2004 refurbishments. BTW, the pit in Athens, was like 3 stories high. I've seen it.

BTW, with such hostile anal-obsessed parties as yrmom here, should I continue sharing Ceremonies secrets?

from: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=229777719


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13c8b08a0113c9706aaa0bf6&qudoo.jpg




http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13c8b08a0113c9706bd30bfa&qudoo.jpg




http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13c8b08a0113c97067bc0bec&qudoo.jpg

Where they will put the flags during the olympics?

The master of Athens 2004 opening ceremony was a greek director, Dimitris Papaionannou. The company had only to make his ideas for the ceremony reality. Does not mean that the companies enforce companie's ideas for the ceremonies, the existence of holes obviously it s up to the director's ideas.

You are correct, but you are talking about directors and shall I say "artistes!". I am talking about the production company in charge of operations who have 99.5% say in what is needed to construct on the stadium floor. Because there is hole does not mean ceremony or direction will be similar biut stadiums havea limited expansion for radical ideas when you have to host the worlds best athletes four days later and protect a trackway that is treated like the crown jewels and then install a fully functional natural pitch to receive the hammer, shot put and football finals etc!
Thus a hole in the centre is simply like any theatre stage a trap door-the plays are all different right?
To recap the director had no influence whatsoever on construction of Beijing Olympic Stadium main structures.

Just to say, the most likely reason it looks like there's no greenery is because atm it's winter in beijing, hence no leafs.....

Spielberg boycotts Olympic role
Steven Spielberg
Mr Spielberg formally announced his decision in a statement
US film director Steven Spielberg has withdrawn as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In a statement, he accused China of not doing enough to pressure its ally Sudan to end the "continuing human suffering" in the troubled western Darfur region.

"I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual," said Mr Spielberg.

At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict.

In a statement, Mr Spielberg said: "At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur."

He said: "Sudan's government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more."

'Tremendous potential'

Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.

In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.

As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur.

Earlier on Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, an open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president.

"We are all aware of the tremendous potential for China to help bring an end to the conflict in Darfur," said the letter, delivered to the Chinese mission to the United Nations by actress Mia Farrow and former Olympic swimmers Shannon Shakespeare and Nikki Dryden.

Where they will put the flags during the olympics?

What flags do you mean? the olympic flag?

No, i mean the flags of all the countries, which have to be all visible inside the olympic stadium.

^^around the roof edge, I bet

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2254372368_33e8c6cda8_b.jpg

wow! awesome indeed :banana:

from http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/preparation/n214235645.shtml


http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080119/Img214235650.jpg
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (M) visits the "Bird's Nest". (Photo credit: Yao Dawei/Xinhua)



(BEIJING, January 19) -- "The remarkable venue will make the Beijing Olympics the best one ever in Olympic history!" British Prime Minister Gordon Brown marveled admiringly at the National Stadium, dubbed as the "Bird's Nest" during his first goodwill visit to China on Saturday, reported Xinhua News Agency.

The Prime Minister arrived in Beijing on Friday for an official visit to China, his first trip to the country since he took office last June. Brown plans to stay until Sunday. Accompanied by his wife, Sarah Brown and British Olympic gold medalist Kelly Holmes, Brown paid a visit to the National Stadium on Saturday morning.

"When people from the rest of the world come to Beijing, they will be amazed at the great effort made by the Chinese for the Olympics when they visit this venue," said the Prime Minister.

Brown assured reporters that he would definitely come to the Olympics if invited and hoped that more British athletes will come to Beijing in August and bring home positive ideas. London is the host city of 2012 Olympic Games.

Just hope you get good air days. Just heard a radio report of most athletes staying and training in Japan even during the games.

No, i mean the flags of all the countries, which have to be all visible inside the olympic stadium.
I think they will be placed along the edge of the inside of the stadium.

Just hope you get good air days.

Oh, thank you! Just hope the days could be better than this...

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2007-8/20078258442799293.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2007-8/20078258455799174.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2007-7/20077250515378536.jpg

^^I have the same question.

China has been taking allot of steps over the past 3 years to clean up the air around the stadium.

Seems that the holes in the center are the new trend for the opening ceremonies since 2004!




Actually, go back one decade earlier, to the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer. That's the first known use in an Olympic Games of underground trapdoors for use in the Ceremonies.

(Then you had Atlanta; then Athens. No underground Ceremonial use in Nagano, Sydney and Salt Lake.)

:lol::lol::lol:

(http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=263426812)

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e1505691001150d3555675a51#.jpg



http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e1505691001150d3558c25a59#.jpg

Beijing Olympic organizers appeared to be caught flat-footed Wednesday by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg's announcement he would not be involved with the Games' opening and closing ceremonies because Beijing is not doing enough to help end the crisis in Darfur.

The announcement by Spielberg, who was to serve as artistic adviser, follows a months-long campaign by activists to highlight the authoritarian communist regime's curbs on human rights and free speech at home, and its close relationship with the Sudanese government that is accused of permitting widespread abuses in Darfur.

i guess they dont need Steven anyways...
the Opening Ceremony will be great with or without steven S.

O god, not another Hollywood big wig thinking the world needs to help Africa. Im tired of the continent. The World has tried to help them, but how can we help a region that wont help its self?

Spielberg needs to give up all his money to help Drfur or i will never see one of his movies again. China has its own problems to deal with.

Obviously, China has been overrated by some people like Mia Farrow on the Darfur issue. US worked for years but still can't bring peace to iraq, how could China have such magic power to do it in a country even bigger than Iraq? China is still a developing country and has its own problems to deal with. Stop buying oil from Sudan will help? Do you think China is their only choice to sell oil to?

About Steven.S, he is a great film director. I feel sorry he won't help the opening ceremony any more, but there is one thing for sure that Mr. Zhang yimou and his group will bring the world a fantastic show on August 8 either w/ or w/o Spielberg.

http://www.arkitera.com/UserFiles/Image/news/2008/02/14/pekin3.jpg

without going too far into the whole minefield that is the darfurian issue one must point out that its not really the oil buying that the western world is annoyed by its the fact that in return china sells the sudanese govt weapons which are then passed to the state sponsored militia who are the people carrying out the massacres in darfur. thats the reason why speilberg and many others are pressurising china. its not an USA vs China thing, its a moral pressure group vs china thing and please dont think otherwise.

as for the post saying Africa needs to help itself...i am amazed by this comment, do you not think that if the aid and assistance was getting to those who need it most that they wouldnt use it? it is unfortunately the minority who rule in many sub saharan nations, they control what the majority gets and alas this is often too little! It is political will and in some cases bravery that is needed in some of Africa's nations to break the ongoing cycle of corruption within the state and western govts could do a hell of a lot more in supporting the opponents on incumbent rulers. We turn a blind eye and we expect our parcels and aid workers to be successful, no.

as for the opening ceremonies i cant wait, whoever is doing them is gonna put on a hell of a show! In many respects i disagree with Speilberg for pulling out, i would argue that the olympics should be free from politics and squabbling, they are a show that showcases the best in humanity, i am sure that the organisors and performers and designers of the opening ceremonies are just ordinary chinese people doing their job and very excited about showing the world what they can do, why should their efforts be marred by a political wrangle. Yes highlight issues, yes pressurize govts, yes get the media on board but make sure the world knows that the olympics is separate. Its a very grey area that mr Speilberg has crossed into and unfortunately he himself has blurred those boundaries, i just wish that it could all be resolved but then i am only a guy in the UK who reads the newspapers. who am i to say what should happen?

lets get more pics of the stadium shall we ... and come on there must be someone who knows details about things, spill it people!

Height is 69m

Size: 332.3m*296.4m

Highest point: 68.5m

Lowest point: 42.8m

Total steel weight: 42K tons

Capacity: 91000(80000 after olympic game)

from:http://www.photofans.cn/forum/showthread.php?threadyear=2008&threadid=15930
Photo by 放飞


http://www.photofans.cn/uploads2008/02/userid104746time20080205133250at24.jpg

They will be better off without Spielberg. Hes like a little spoiled rich blonde brat. Wont get his way so he walks away. Boo hoo, i didnt get the the rase i wanted, so what, im not quitting my job. this is my bull shit.

Im not going to watch another Spielberg movie until he gives all his money to aid in Darfur.

So this is the last time im asking....Cauldron. Where is it!?

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-2-217_1.jpg

^^^^
That is seriously SEXY!

Size: 332.3m*296.4m

Capacity: 91000(85000 after olympic game)

sorry; double pst. Following is the complete one.

Size: 332.3m*296.4m

Capacity: 91000 (85000 after olympic game)

How can it be more for the Olympic Games when:

1. There is the Press Section (they take out a few hundred seats so that the TV commnetators can have their own monitors and working desk space);

2. Another 150 or so seats will also go because of camera placements. There were 14 cameras in use for Atlanta's Ceremonies. There would be at least that much for Beijing.

3. Take out another hundred or 2 for:
- the orchestra and
- other special stage arrangements that may block a spectator's view.

I think realistically, it might be closer to 86,000 for its Olympic seating.

So this is the last time im asking....Cauldron. Where is it!?
It has not been built yet.

^^^^
That is seriously SEXY!

And seriously dangerous! All those holes between the circles are accidents waiting to happen. Good thing the laws in China are not as favorable for lawsuits as they are in the United States.:nuts:

How can it be more for the Olympic Games when:

1. There is the Press Section (they take out a few hundred seats so that the TV commnetators can have their own monitors and working desk space);

2. Another 150 or so seats will also go because of camera placements. There were 14 cameras in use for Atlanta's Ceremonies. There would be at least that much for Beijing.

3. Take out another hundred or 2 for:
- the orchestra and
- other special stage arrangements that may block a spectator's view.

I think realistically, it might be closer to 86,000 for its Olympic seating.

11000 are temporary seats, so the capacity post olympics will be 80000,not 85000, sorry about that.:)

So this is the last time im asking....Cauldron. Where is it!?


:)I guess nobody could find the answer for you b/c there are only 10 people in China know what it looks like and how to light it up. It even won't show up in the rehearsals in this July.

Several days ago, in his blog, a person who involved the construction of bird's nest said that the opening ceremony design group asked them to install something on the roof and the whole thing looks like a dragon. He said maybe this dragon will be lighted up first and then fire comes out from its mouth, but what he said was denied by the game organizers immediately. They said no body will know untill 11:30PM, 08,08,2008.

Traditional pavilion in backdrop of modern 'Bird's Nest'

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080131/Img214243738.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080131/Img214243739.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080131/Img214243740.jpg

:)I guess nobody could find the answer for you b/c there are only 10 people in China know what it looks like and how to light it up. It even won't show up in the rehearsals in this July.

Several days ago, in his blog, a person who involved the construction of bird's nest said that the opening ceremony design group asked them to install something on the roof and the whole thing looks like a dragon. He said maybe this dragon will be lighted up first and then fire comes out from its mouth, but what he said was denied by the game organizers immediately. They said no body will know untill 11:30PM, 08,08,2008.

It's going to rise from the center. How else? That hanging-in-midair thing is just not, to use a pun, going to fly by the IOC. It is too dangerous and logistically impossible to set up w/o people entering the stadium immediately knowing where it is.

The way they constructed the stadium limits the places where a safe cauldron can go. And the only place that will be safe, be central, and can be seen by everyone will have to be in/rise from the ground center field -- NOT in the air.

And then after, the Ceremonies, the flame can be transferred to a tower outside.

:) Who knows...

ask him!!:lol:


http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070809/Img214123623.JPG

Size: 332.3m*296.4m

Highest point: 68.5m

Lowest point: 42.8m

Total steel weight: 42K tons

Capacity: 91000(85000 after olympic game)

Lowest point? Whats that?

The roof is not flat, the lowest part of it is 42.8 high.

so the highest row must be +42,8m ..wow

It's going to rise from the center. How else? That hanging-in-midair thing is just not, to use a pun, going to fly by the IOC. It is too dangerous and logistically impossible to set up w/o people entering the stadium immediately knowing where it is.

The way they constructed the stadium limits the places where a safe cauldron can go. And the only place that will be safe, be central, and can be seen by everyone will have to be in/rise from the ground center field -- NOT in the air.

And then after, the Ceremonies, the flame can be transferred to a tower outside.

how about during the 100m finals or orther event during the games... they need the field... and the cauldron will be on it way...

how about during the 100m finals or orther event during the games... they need the field... and the cauldron will be on it way...

That's what I'm saying. After 08/08/08 - the next day -- the move the flame to the cauldron tower outside so that whole space is clear. Not unless they are doing a Seoul-style thingie and having a mini-cauldron tower off to one end of the field.

But that hanging mid-air cauldron will not go well with the IAAF.

A series of photos from http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=140816253

12.2003 (before the construction started)


http://images.beijing-2008.org/89/43/Img212044389.jpg




01.2004

http://images.beijing-2008.org/91/43/Img212044391.jpg




08.2005

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13bd2ca40113bdb2bc040485&qudoo.jpg



11.2005

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13bd2ca40113bdb2bb770483&qudoo.jpg




03.2006

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13bd2ca40113bdb2bd2c0489&qudoo.jpg

10.2006

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13bd2ca40113bdb2bc900487&qudoo.jpg




01.2007


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13bd2ca40113bdb2c01a048d&qudoo.jpg

How about 90 more pictures? We need them for EVERY week of construction.

Not brilliant, but a picture taken by a friend this week.

http://a960.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_7bb371c6e8d9d461fb71f0b5766bd427.jpg

11000 are temporary seats, so the capacity post olympics will be 80000,not 85000, sorry about that.:)

80,000 sucks. If the capacity of that stadium were at that number, it would be the second largest stadium in China. THe Guangdong Olympic Stadium holds 80,012 (or 82,000). I changed the capacity so it would be the largest stadium in (The People's Republic of) China. The seating bowl looks like it doesn't need a reduction in seating capacity.

I changed the capacity so it would be the largest stadium in (The People's Republic of) China.

??????:master::master::master:

http://cache.orion.sina.com.cn/phototech_d/15/82/1199412228.jpg

http://cache.orion.sina.com.cn/phototech_d/15/82/1199412228.jpg

Maybe for air convection?

http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/image/flash/

80,000 sucks. If the capacity of that stadium were at that number, it would be the second largest stadium in China. THe Guangdong Olympic Stadium holds 80,012 (or 82,000). I changed the capacity so it would be the largest stadium in (The People's Republic of) China. The seating bowl looks like it doesn't need a reduction in seating capacity.

What's your point? :ohno: Like -- do you/we have a say in it? :ohno:

[As a matter of fact, I've wondered why they didn't shoot for 88,888 seats in Birds Nest -- knowing their obsession with 8's.]

In the final analysis, does it really matter whether a stadium in an otherwise totalitarian society, has 80 - 85,000 seats? You know, there's still 1,299,020,000 Chinese citizens it won't be able to seat.

News from beijing2008.cn



All 80,000 'Bird's Nest' seats installed



http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080129/Img214242104.jpg
Seats await the spectators. (Photo credit: Zhang Zheng/China Foto Press)




http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080129/Img214242102.jpg
Seats await the spectators. (Photo credit: Zhang Zheng/China Foto Press)




http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080129/Img214242103.jpg
The stands (Photo credit: Zhang Zheng/China Foto Press)


"(BEIJING, Jan. 29) -- The 80,000 seats of the National Stadium -- the architectural centerpiece of the Olympic Games and also known as the "Bird's Nest" for its distinct appearance -- have been installed on the stands as of January 28, 2008.

Made of modified polypropylene, the seats have shown excellent performance in flexural strength and impact strength tests, and they are customized to offer comfort to the spectators. And the colors of the seats will remain fade-resistant for three years under ultraviolet radiation."

does it really matter whether a stadium in an otherwise totalitarian society, has 80 - 85,000 seats?

What's the relationship between stadium capacity and totalitarian society?

What's the relationship between stadium capacity and totalitarian society?

That's what I was wondering about in Jim856789's original post. What does capacity matter, when if it wants, Beijing can fill a whatever-sized stadium in a day's time? So, what was Jim whining about?

Since I have to explain it to you -- then Beijing is being rather modest in building a new 80,000-seat stadium. It didn't have to -- if it wanted to be bombastic as in the old Mao days. But it didn't.

Ok, the seats look cheaper than I thought. Come on. World class exterior, then they throw this out there?

http://cimg2.163.com/catchpic/9/9C/9C023786D394DC5A90C3E5D251203511.jpg

Feb. 10, during the Spring Festival, a great deal of townspeople and tourists took photos on Beichen Bridge, the Northern Forth Ring Road and caused traffic jam.

Someone found new devices installed on the roof and gave a rendering in imagination.

You could also imagine how they will be used.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200821622484376300.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082181412788571.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082181749372941.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200821818133187847.jpg

I think it's still a little too early to imagine that those contraptions are connected to a hanging/floating 'cauldron.'

Because here still is my main question: OK, it's supposed to be a 'big surprise' as it always is. Well, when people enter the stadium (7:00 pm, Beijing time in the summer, the sky will STILL be bright. That's when they ask people to come in) they will obviously see those guy wires already hooked up. And I don't see those guy-wires that will supposedly hold up the cauldron being lashed to those winches mid-way thru the Opening Ceremony. I mean you can't have stagehands criss-crossing the field while performances are going on in the centerfield, setting up the wires which are then to be hoisted taut to get the cauldron in place???

Unless they set up this 'web' while the nations are marching in --but how? The nations will be marching around the track INTO the field. So how in heck are they going to set this up from the ground. Or not unless they will be 'harpooning the guy wires across the roof ALL done from the roof?

Are they even on BOTH sides of the roof? Or only on one side?

I'd say those devices are for something else. Maybe lasers? TV signal transmitters? Fireworks placements? Or devices for other floating elements of the show? Or something else needed for the final stages of the construction. They're not necessarily for the envisioned 'floating' cauldron.

those new little devices do rase back the idea of the cauldron being suspended above the stadium. it would be an impressive design for future Olympics to follow.

flying 'trucks' used in ceremonies such as manchester commonwealths, melbourne commonwealths and sydney 2000 all required lots of guide wires which were then removed the following day. if the floating couldron is a myth then i expect that these supports are probably for theatrical use however none of the previous ones had centred guides, all were at right angles crossing the stadium, with all my experience of stage and arena flying i am at a loss as to how a centred formation of guides could work...so the central hole and the web idea do suggest something either coming out of the ground and then splitting to the sides or the other way round, its certainly interesting, we will just have to wait and see!!!

the backdrop of birds nest from traditional pavilion is clearly an indication of the past and the future looks brilliant! the watercube is simply elegant and it be great just to get inside and see a work of art

there were some photos posted in the sports arena are that shows some new construction added to the roof around the rim. Leads to the thought that those are the anchors for the suspended cauldron that is rumored to be hung in the center of the opening.

flying 'trucks' used in ceremonies such as manchester commonwealths, melbourne commonwealths and sydney 2000 all required lots of guide wires which were then removed the following day. if the floating couldron is a myth then i expect that these supports are probably for theatrical use however none of the previous ones had centred guides, all were at right angles crossing the stadium, with all my experience of stage and arena flying i am at a loss as to how a centred formation of guides could work...so the central hole and the web idea do suggest something either coming out of the ground and then splitting to the sides or the other way round, its certainly interesting, we will just have to wait and see!!!

And which still beg the questions:

1. What will be the fuel source for the cauldron? So they'll have pipes also floating in mid-air to keep that flame going? :ohno:

2. That web/contraption idea will create distracting shadows on the infield during the middle of the day. I don't know that the IAAF will be happy with that -- just in the name of innovation?

http://cache.orion.sina.com.cn/phototech_d/15/82/1199412228.jpg
A flame needs oxygen to be a flame. Those holes let in air at the source of the flame.

I think someone has finally figured out how the cauldron will be lit on 08/08/08.

Go to: http://www.gamesbids.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9888&pid=152370&st=0&#entry152370

This Baron seems to be a real smart guy. He also guessed the Athens' lighting.

From that link:
WHen the Olympic flag is brought in darkness, the guide wires from the roof rim are dropped simultaneouly. A dozen stage-hands are positioned beneath them, and in the darkness they all run with their ends of the guide-wires, making their way thru the athletes' assembly towards the center of the field where the cauldron awaits. THe ends are then attached to hooks in the cauldron -- waiting to be hoisted.

the cauldron is always a mystery the one that really surprised me was the sydney games its like where did that came from, the athens was very obvious with the cigarette sticking up but with the video of rendering of birds nest true it does show a cauldron been suspended in the middle just lookin forward to opening ceremony should be a massive coming out party

I am very disappointed by this stadium. It was just perfect at the renders, but in the real, became a massive, havy ugly thing :(

I am very disappointed by this stadium. It was just perfect at the renders, but in the real, became a massive, havy ugly thing :(


I totally agree.

I think it still is a very beautyfull stadium. Only a bit disappointed about its capacity. I thought it would be 100k or closs to.

it looks more like a prison or cage
not very good symbol for Olympics, especially for China

I think it still is a very beautyfull stadium. Only a bit disappointed about its capacity. I thought it would be 100k or closs to.

As i remember it was proposed to be 100.000 at the beginning, but later changed to 91.000 for Olympics and 80.000 after

As i remember it was proposed to be 100.000 at the beginning, but later changed to 91.000 for Olympics and 80.000 after

The IOC does not recommend building a stadium for more than 80,000. Remember, it usually does NOT fill up in the early days (usually, the first week) of T&F -- that is why it does not want a larger stadium.

Hi everyone :)

I've "lurked" for ages and finally signed on. Couldn't contain myself any further:nuts:

A floating cauldron would be a totally new departure!

Sydney - with fire and water

Athens - with it's "dipping" cauldron

Beijing - where it floats..?

It could work. The guide wires could actually be the gas supply itself - metalised tubes able to support their, and the cauldrons, own weight

And didn't Athens have a centralised area - after the athletes had entered the stadium - where the officials went onto to have their opening speaches - there was a tree or something in there?

This could be where the whole thing's lit, and then rises to the centre of the stadium

Not sure how they'll deal with things when the athletics start - but that a whole new discussion. In the meantime, amazing stadium from the outside, a bit oppressive inside :ohno: - although once they've got everying in athletics mode - with flags and all that jazz - who knows?

:lol::lol:

01,26,2008, Nanning City, southwestern China. A man wore a "birds nest" on his head to support Beijing olympic games.


http://life.scol.com.cn/picture/newpic/200801/20081271747431.jpg


http://life.scol.com.cn/picture/newpic/200801/20081271747432.jpg

A nice pic.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082181502174733.jpg

Sorry guys, these three photos are not the birds nest, but I think it looks good. This one is located in Tianjin, a city close to Beijing. People call it "water drop". This stadium will host olympic football games during this summer.

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea49c109e#.jpg


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea42f109c#.jpg


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea3c1109a#.jpg


Photo from http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=267785533

Ok, let's go back to the nest.

More construction pics:

http://upload.blog.daqi.com/uploadnew/2006-06-28/1151461831.JPG


and I simply love this one,

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e13f244070113f369dd701379&qudoo.jpg

(from http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=233908865)

or any areal shot (from feb 08)

it looks more like a prison or cage
Ironically its post-Olympic use will be as a prison... for ornithophobiacs. :cheers:

:lol::lol:

01,26,2008, Nanning City, southwestern China. A man wore a "birds nest" on his head to support Beijing olympic games.

That looks so cool:lol::lol::lol:

Ironically its post-Olympic use will be as a prison... for ornithophobiacs. :cheers:

And dedicated to the Bird Man of Alcatraz -- thus known, outside China, as the Robert Stroud Memorial Stadium. :lol:

Ok, let's go back to the nest.

More construction pics:

http://upload.blog.daqi.com/uploadnew/2006-06-28/1151461831.JPG



you see the dutch everywhere... :bash:
mamoet on the right/middle of the pick

Wonderful photos by Lululong

Watercube
2008-02-07

版权声明 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.zh)：转载时请以超链接形式标明文章原始出处和作者信息及本声明 (http://bangzhuzhongxin.blogbus.com/logs/11205960.html)
http://lululong.blogbus.com/logs/15083877.html

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-t-165_1.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/square0802-watercube-t-165_.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-t-158_12.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-opening-067.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-opening-1015.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-opening-930_.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-e-21v6.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/2d234073471_5d4852132b_o.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-2-217_1.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-e-185_1.jpg

http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/0802-watercube-opening-232_.jpg

this pool is wonderful. Best of all times.

^^ wonderful too

How come the website supplies info on the Fencing Hall in the National conference center, but no info on the entire National Conference Centre itself?

they've just recently completed the wukesong basketball stadium looks awesome would put in pics but it won't let me?

a bird view, click here to view the picture:

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822211414189200.jpg

ok the venues may look good but is it me or does the olympic park look very very bland not much green but too much grey

awesome pics :okay:
beijing has totally changed :)

Olympic park must not be green so much. it looks thecnologic to me.

a bird view, click here to view the picture:

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822211414189200.jpg

ugliest stadium of the Olympic history without doubt :ohno:

The guy who posted this pic said this photo was taken last November.

those stadia look fantastic. I just hope to catch all the action this year.

from Beijingupdates.com:

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143859887.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143852429.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143838214.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143873783.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082516183497693.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082516463572297.jpg

The Wukesong Culture and Sports Centre consists of only a basketball gymnasium and 2 baseball stadiums. After The Olympic Games, there will be the basketball gymnasium and a 1,000-seat baseball field. I have only seen the 'sports' part of the Wukesong culture and sports centre. Now where's the culture part? should there be other buildings in the Wukesong Centre than the gymnasium?

And seriously dangerous! All those holes between the circles are accidents waiting to happen. Good thing the laws in China are not as favorable for lawsuits as they are in the United States.:nuts:

Safety is important, but we shouldn't have to child proof everything to the point that everything looks like a day care centre.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822414454539989.jpg

02/21/08:


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822414454539989.jpg

These are, by far, the most impressive Olympic structures ever. Congratulations China, and good luck as hosts. You beat out my city, so the feelings are bittersweet. It could have been Torontonians getting ready to host, but we're excited for you at the same time. Bravo!

That is one amazing stadium and a fantastic design. "Long live the olympic games".

http://img1.bbs.163.com/photo/bc/bc_9812476/900x601_182513.jpg
http://img2.bbs.163.com/photo/bc/bc_9812476/900x601_157018.jpg

I'm not so surprise about this new Olympic Stadium. It really reminds me Seoul'88. Very similar the architecture of both stadia. Above all the interiors.

I'm not so surprise about this new Olympic Stadium. It really reminds me Seoul'88. Very similar the architecture of both stadia. Above all the interiors.

Nice username! :D

Greece Gets Ready!

Workers are racing against the clock to re-plant trees on ancient Olympia before next month's Beijing Games torch-lighting ceremony after the area was devastated by last year's forest fires.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of forest land were torched during the blazes last August that left much of the western Peloponnese in ashes and more than 65 people dead.

The site of the ancient Olympics and the modern Games' torch-lighting ceremony and relay did not escape destruction. The once lush pine forests that hug the ancient stadium and the popular archaeological site were left charred.

"Re-planting is already halfway done," Olympia mayor Giorgos Aidonis told Reuters on Tuesday. "As usual, we started late but I am optimistic that by the end of February the work will finish."

The Hellenic Olympic Committee recently warned that Greece faced international embarrassment because of re-forestation delays that would become visible in television pictures beamed around the world during the ceremony on March 24.

The Games will be held in the Chinese capital in August.

"We are rushing to be ready on time. More than 27,000 plants and trees will be planted by the end of February," Aidonis said.

BUSY PLANTING

Dozens of workers are now busy planting trees on the eerily bare Kronios hill, once covered in wild vegetation, above the ancient stadium.

Olympia is the home of the ancient Games and the torch-lighting ceremony and relays for every winter and summer Olympics since the 1936 Berlin Games.

Though the site was spared by the flames, nearby forests and the International Olympic Committee-owned Olympic Academy were severely damaged.

Gardeners have planted young cypress trees around the monument of the modern Games founder, Pierre de Coubertin, in the academy compound. The white marble monument, where his heart is buried, is the first stop of the first relay runner after every ceremony.

Aidonis said the IOC has done nothing to help.

"Absolutely nothing. They have not paid a single penny," he said.

The IOC said funds were given to the Greek Olympic Committee following the fires.

"A donation of $250,000 was made at the time via the National Olympic Committee," an IOC official told Reuters.

Local residents were also angry with what they said was cosmetic work only for the ceremony.

"There are other areas nearby that suffered even greater damage but there is no re-forestation going on there," local worker Achilleas Passias said, watering seedlings above the Coubertin monument.

"People died, people lost their homes and their livelihood so they should be cared for and not only what TV cameras will show during the torch lighting ceremony in March."



-------------------------------------------------------------

www.2012olympichost.com

http://2012olympic.proboards42.com/index.cgi

"As usual, we started late but I am optimistic that by the end of February the work will finish."



I really, really LOVE the greek way! First, they get too much time to start something and everybody worries that the whole thing will go shit, they always start so incredibly late when they have to do something important. But finally, always the result is stunning and amazes everyone!!!

:tiasd:

Greece Gets Ready!

Workers are racing against the clock to re-plant trees on ancient Olympia before next month's Beijing Games torch-lighting ceremony after the area was devastated by last year's forest fires.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of forest land were torched during the blazes last August that left much of the western Peloponnese in ashes and more than 65 people dead.

The site of the ancient Olympics and the modern Games' torch-lighting ceremony and relay did not escape destruction. The once lush pine forests that hug the ancient stadium and the popular archaeological site were left charred.

"Re-planting is already halfway done," Olympia mayor Giorgos Aidonis told Reuters on Tuesday. "As usual, we started late but I am optimistic that by the end of February the work will finish."

The Hellenic Olympic Committee recently warned that Greece faced international embarrassment because of re-forestation delays that would become visible in television pictures beamed around the world during the ceremony on March 24.

The Games will be held in the Chinese capital in August.

"We are rushing to be ready on time. More than 27,000 plants and trees will be planted by the end of February," Aidonis said.

BUSY PLANTING

Dozens of workers are now busy planting trees on the eerily bare Kronios hill, once covered in wild vegetation, above the ancient stadium.

Olympia is the home of the ancient Games and the torch-lighting ceremony and relays for every winter and summer Olympics since the 1936 Berlin Games.

Though the site was spared by the flames, nearby forests and the International Olympic Committee-owned Olympic Academy were severely damaged.

Gardeners have planted young cypress trees around the monument of the modern Games founder, Pierre de Coubertin, in the academy compound. The white marble monument, where his heart is buried, is the first stop of the first relay runner after every ceremony.

Aidonis said the IOC has done nothing to help.

"Absolutely nothing. They have not paid a single penny," he said.

The IOC said funds were given to the Greek Olympic Committee following the fires.

"A donation of $250,000 was made at the time via the National Olympic Committee," an IOC official told Reuters.

Local residents were also angry with what they said was cosmetic work only for the ceremony.

"There are other areas nearby that suffered even greater damage but there is no re-forestation going on there," local worker Achilleas Passias said, watering seedlings above the Coubertin monument.

"People died, people lost their homes and their livelihood so they should be cared for and not only what TV cameras will show during the torch lighting ceremony in March."



-------------------------------------------------------------

www.2012olympichost.com

http://2012olympic.proboards42.com/index.cgi

As usual the greeks doing everything in the last minute. I remember one olympiad ago when the IOC were eating their nails nervously when everything had a huge delay for everything.

LOL!
That article is hilarious considering the events of 4 years ago!
Thanks again to Athens for 2004, best Olympics ever, albeit poor preperation!
As usual the greeks doing everything in the last minute. I remember one olympiad ago when the IOC were eating their nails nervously when everything had a huge delay for everything.
Me too. And then I remember watching the opening ceremony in August 2004. Simply amazing!

Look, don't think I am saying this solely because I am a Londoner. I will happily admit the 2012 stadium is bland, unexciting and quite frankly, cheap.

But still I really dislike this one too. The bird's nest looks not pretty at all in my opinion. Fine, it's a completely new piece of architecture, especially for the Olympics, but I really do not think it is deserving or worthy of this praise. It's ugly.

A magnificent stadium :yes:
I heard that there were some problems with the visibility to the field, that problem was already resolved?

I think this is the most creative, and by far the most beautiful stadium built for the Olympics thus far. I loved Athens and the art deco of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but this... This is imagination embodied. Add in the other structures, and Beijing outdid itself. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Sorry guys, these three photos are not the birds nest, but I think it looks good. This one is located in Tianjin, a city close to Beijing. People call it "water drop". This stadium will host olympic football games during this summer.

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea49c109e#.jpg


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea42f109c#.jpg


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea3c1109a#.jpg


Photo from http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=267785533

Does China have some sort of national sport league? A lot of Chinese cities are building these stadiums, but I've never heard anything about there being something along the lines of a Chinese national Soccer league (or some other sport). So who is using all the stadiums?

If there isn't some sort of national sport in China, you could make a billion fucking dollars by setting one up. Team and city loyalty, a billion strong population, bored workers with no other meaning in their lives - perfect support base!

Olympic park must not be green so much. it looks thecnologic to me.

Man wait for it.. it will be the greenest in no time.. living in china for last 7 years, i know they will change the whole place in no time with trees and Grass...

Does China have some sort of national sport league? A lot of Chinese cities are building these stadiums, but I've never heard anything about there being something along the lines of a Chinese national Soccer league (or some other sport). So who is using all the stadiums?



China already has a national football league for many years, but of course, it is not as famous as the one in England, Spain, Germany, Italy... :nuts::lol::cry:

I would say there are at least 100 million football fans in China nowdays and almost every major big city has its football club.

Check here:http://www.stadiumzone.net/c/china.htm

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Beijing_National_Stadium.jpg/800px-Beijing_National_Stadium.jpg

where can I get hi-resolution images of the Olympic Stadium in Beijing and the Water Cube?
Thanks for any feedback!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2299816818_466efb27b6_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2299969900_d36087d9ba_b.jpg

^^Wow...wow...wow!!!:banana::carrot::pepper::applause:

Truly an amazing structure. About 160 days left to go.

from beijingupdates.com

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6690/20082221141418920052a3bgq5.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717215599578.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717215586512.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717215577905.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717215585431.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717215579942.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717362780154.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717365915161.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200822717374695018.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082271738831141.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2892/2008218174937294152a2e4ja0.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/259/20082211617548437052a39qv2.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9423/20082191313367488952a1cil9.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5165/200821913133593429528cezc9.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2712/20082191313362714752a1atu5.jpg

beautiful photos :okay:

this is so space-age, very futuristic at night

It will be a best design stadium in the world.

by far the best looking stadium structure around i'm so jealous even the other stadiums built for olympics wise the tianjin stadium and shenyang looks like comes from another planet, can't wait till finish construction

This is looking good.
One question though, what is the landscaping around the stadium going to be like, because we have a few pictures showing slightly different things:
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2892/2008218174937294152a2e4ja0.jpg

http://chau84.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/beijing1.jpeg

http://www.asla.org/awards/2007/medals/awarded/images/sasaki10.jpg

Personally, I hope the first one is what's actually happening, there's so much more planting, loads of trees. I don't like the big empty space in the second one.

the second one's actually nice. i think those are chinese zodiac characters around the stadium.

This thing is just fabulous!

The night shots of the Bird Nest is fantastic. The light gives it some kinds of crystal looks.

The Olympic stadium looks amazing!

I'm wondering how good the landscaping is going to be... they haven't started...

It is amazing !! I am sure - It will be beautiful stadium.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/dispbbs.asp?boardID=1&ID=12398&page=1

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008328525864822.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832944584360.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832944552359.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008329111240328.jpg

At first I loved the birds nest and its renders but now when I see it being built I am a bit unsure of whether this will look good. From the inside I really don't like it much.
All the other stadiums and the pool though...:eek: just amazing.

right... ?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2303179387_453df31bea_b.jpg

^^ landscaping can be done in a week or two, remember Athens Olympic...they put the trees in almost at the last day before the opening.

bird nest inside update, from beijingupdates.com

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008328525834286.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008328525895862.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008328525864822.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832944584360.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832944552359.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832944532536.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832992833309.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008329111240328.jpg

in the 2nd image above, what that centre part going to be? for the opening
at a guess.....

------------------------------------------------

http://2012olympic.proboards42.com/index.cgi

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2299816818_466efb27b6_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2299969900_d36087d9ba_b.jpg


Whats that to the right of the pic/stadium? looks like the
Olympic flame tower?

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http://2012olympic.proboards42.com/index.cgi

^^That is "Linglong Pagoda", a 128m high tower for TV broadcast of the olympic games.


http://www.bob2008.com/images/photo30.jpg

(pic from www.bob2008.com)

in the 2nd image above, what that centre part going to be? for the opening
at a guess.....

------------------------------------------------

http://2012olympic.proboards42.com/index.cgi

I believe so. And the post on the top of the stadium will serve the same purpose.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2892/2008218174937294152a2e4ja0.jpg

:applause::applause::applause::applause:
Fantastic

Amazing!

Shenyang Olympic Sports Center. It is located in Shenyang, a city with more than 6 million people, north of Beijing. It will be used for olympic football games too.

Location: Shenyang, China
Capacity: 60000

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7237/4zxxan8kl3.jpg



http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/961/5yn2q95bx9.jpg


http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2816/6conrjoaw5.jpg


http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1096/4y6bwyaae2.jpg


http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7717/678ad91mm1.jpg

(Pics from http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=317234&page=34)

this is wonderful, much better than Olympic stadium :okay: , please show the other complexes!

Shanghai stadium, the third stadi for olympic football outside Beijing.

Location: Shanghai, China

Capacity: 80000


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A3.jpg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A4.jpg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A.jpeg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A2.jpeg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai.jpg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai2.jpg

(Photo from http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai.html

2007 Special Olympic openning ceremony:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_05210040310174681410924.jpg


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_162100403073671847297.jpg


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_062100402193510982374.jpg

(Photo from http://news.xinhuanet.com)

They cant built it less than 50000 in China:nuts:

Shanghai stadium, the third stadi for olympic football outside Beijing.

Location: Shanghai, China

Capacity: 80000


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A3.jpg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A4.jpg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A.jpeg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A2.jpeg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai.jpg


http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai2.jpg

(Photo from http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai.html

2007 Special Olympic openning ceremony:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_05210040310174681410924.jpg


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_162100403073671847297.jpg


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_062100402193510982374.jpg

(Photo from http://news.xinhuanet.com)

80.000 my ass. concert capacity is 80.000. no way that there are 80.000 seats in that stadium. 55.000 tops. compare it to the new stadium in rio, or a real 80.000.

80.000 my ass. concert capacity is 80.000. no way that there are 80.000 seats in that stadium. 55.000 tops. compare it to the new stadium in rio, or a real 80.000.

Please take a look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Stadium

man, this is fantastic. This is the best looking stadium by far.

http://baike.baidu.com/pic/55/11963418209464271.jpg


photo from http://baike.baidu.com


http://www.chinactc.net/ADMIN/Destination/UpImage/2006-8-2/20068214542234466.jpg

photo from http://www.chinactc.net

other venues to be used during olympics truly amazing


Location: Shenyang, China
Capacity: 60000

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7237/4zxxan8kl3.jpg



http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/961/5yn2q95bx9.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1096/4y6bwyaae2.jpg

Tianjin


http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea49c109e#.jpg

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea42f109c#.jpg

http://www.qudoo.net/p?id=4028808e15428b360115449ea3c1109a#.jpg

and finally beijing

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143859887.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143852429.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-1/20081302143873783.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082516183497693.jpg

oh yeah add to the list is shanghai 80,000 capacity

http://www.chinactc.net/ADMIN/Destination/UpImage/2006-8-2/20068214542234466.jpg

http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai_A.jpeg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_05210040310174681410924.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/03/xinsrc_162100403073671847297.jpg

and i like this pic of national stadium

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2299969900_d36087d9ba_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2303179387_453df31bea_b.jpg

Pics from www.beijingupdates.com

03/03/2008, the national stadium was illuminated at night for testing. There are still 3000 to 4000 more lights to be installed. Someone said that the engineers will use the exterior red lights to mimic heart beat, that's really a cool idea.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348584857121.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348584871400.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083415271649661.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083415273547167.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348593939239.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200834903321719.jpg

this stadium is AMAZING!!!

WOW.. if u think that looks like a prison,then you must have some great looking prisons where you live!!

Wouldn't it be crazy if the actual stadium roof was the cauldron :lol:

Davee08, you forgot the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. That's a 2008 Olympic football venue, too.

I don't like the national stadium, looks like a big dish full of pasta.

I don't know why the Guangdong Olympic stadium is not included. It's one of the top 3 in China. Maybe Guangzhou is too far from Beijing? but HongKong is even further. What a waste!

^^ Guangzhou will hold the Asian Games in 2010 so there are a lot of chances to improve its stadiums' international exposure :)

80.000 my ass.

What? You can only fit 50,000 in your ass, and you want 80.000? :blink:

Oookay.....

To each his own. I love spaghetti and red. It's making me hungry. :)
I love the monolithic industrial quality of this place.

^^ I thinking about the same thing, it WAY ahead of time just amazing to see they able to build this. This is one of those stadium will still look up-to-date in 50 years.

Chinkyy if you compare it will toilet seat, all stadium with a hole at the middle look like toilet seat, what is your point?

^^ Guangzhou will hold the Asian Games in 2010 so there are a lot of chances to improve its stadiums' international exposure :)

:)Yes, that's true. I heard they already started innovations for the 2010 Asian Games. The design of the Guangdong stadium is very unique and the capacity can be easily expanded to 90000 if they want.

this stadium is something, guys. . .

mimic a heart beat to symbolize the chinese farmers who died to build this. May they rest in piece.

mimic a heart beat to symbolize the chinese farmers who died to build this. May they rest in piece.

Oh please. Get over it. 2 workers also died constructing Atlanta's Turner Field. No one was displaced for the Beijing Olympic Park.

Oh please. Get over it. 2 workers also died constructing Atlanta's Turner Field. No one was displaced for the Beijing Olympic Park.

mimic a heart beat to symbolize the chinese farmers who died to build this. May they rest in piece.

Oh snap! :applause:

Btw fantastic pics guys! There are some stunning structures going up in China.

By the latest news, bird nest will be completed by the end of April.
(beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348584857121.jpg http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348584888106.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348593964603.jpg http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348593934711.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348593993670.jpg http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008348593939239.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200834903321719.jpg http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200834903826608.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008341516267032.jpg http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008341516277168.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083415271649661.jpg http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083415273547167.jpg

Day time
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200836921839466.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200836903821790.jpg

New photo from beijingupdates.com

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008368581174518.jpg

I can feel the cold:)

By the latest news, bird nest will be completed by the end of April.


The offical explanation is there are still a lot of stuff for the openning and closing ceremonies need to be installed and tested. Sounds like we are going to have a really big surprise, can't wait!

:)Yes, that's true. I heard they already started innovations for the 2010 Asian Games. The design of the Guangdong stadium is very unique and the capacity can be easily expanded to 90000 if they want.

This is the pic of Guangdong Olympic Sport center, which is able to hold 80012 people
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/china/guangdong_olympic1.jpg

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/china/guangdong_olympic2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Stade_Olympique_Guangdong.JPG/800px-Stade_Olympique_Guangdong.JPG

this one is nice, too but not as nice as bird nest. it is different:)

that stadium is guangzhou was originally to be the venue of the 2008 olympics but then ofcourse government changed its mind and decided to build a new stadium in beijing instead with proposals to have a retractable roof and at first i didn't like this birds nest but now i think its by far the best choice and imagine how much more intimidating with the retractable roof nonetheless this is by far my fav stadium in the world

New photo from beijingupdates.com

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008368581174518.jpg

I can feel the cold:)


I can feel the air pollution...

I can feel the air pollution...

I love the "feel":rofl: of air pollution. So tingly! And I can smell the jealousy of a Greek fearing his "prestigious" 2004 Olympics being extremely inferior to this years games. Come August 8th I think you should fear this. :badnews:

so here we can see that there is some cables giving symmetrical shapes in the open air of the roof. (similar to the Athens 04 OP)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080306/capt.b6391dee6afc4cafbdeacbdfdf10d56d.china_birds_nest_xhg109.jpg?x=400&y=263&sig=Ht4TEXJQvDJ2uwbbLAyiNw--

Preparations for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have interrupted work at the 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium, and it will not be completed until the end of April

check out this VID.. it give great details of current INTERIOR BIRD NEST shots!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0g9u0CAYHo

ohh and this one that i made...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_F2rnugqq4

^^nice job :applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

Brilliant video!

that stadium is guangzhou was originally to be the venue of the 2008 olympics

Really? where did u get the news? I have never heard of it.

so here we can see that there is some cables giving symmetrical shapes in the open air of the roof. (similar to the Athens 04 OP)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080306/capt.b6391dee6afc4cafbdeacbdfdf10d56d.china_birds_nest_xhg109.jpg?x=400&y=263&sig=Ht4TEXJQvDJ2uwbbLAyiNw--

Preparations for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have interrupted work at the 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium, and it will not be completed until the end of April

Hey, good job on those videos, Oscar. Thanks.

But I think you have it the other way around. BOCOG and the Ceremonies team cannot enter the stadium UNTIL all construction is done. :ohno: Why should temporary Ceremonial rigging take precedence over permanent structural installations -- which would be necessary to hold temporary Ceremonial cables, etc., in place?

The stadium has a completion deadline of this month. Then it will be turned over to BOCOG, and Ceremonies can begin to put their stuff in. BUT NOT permanently or until AFTER the stadium is used for the Chinese team's Track & Field trials sometime in June. That will also serve as the test event for the stadium.

ONLY after that event can Ceremonies install all their riggings, etc., to see which ones also needed for the Closing can stay up WITHOUT interference to the 10 or so days of Athletics, and which ones need to come down after the Opening Ceremony.

The answer is no :), but it is ture that the Guangdong stadium (Guangzhou"flower") was picked to be the centerpiece of 2008 olympic games until game organizers changed the plan and decided to build the bird's nest in Beijing. Guangdong stadium will not join the olympics this year but it will be the main stadium for 2012 Asian Games.

http://www.newsgd.com/specials/gzbidforasiad/sportsfacilityingz/200403310061_14579.jpg


Location: Guangzhou, China
Capacity: 80012
Area Dimensions: 10,500,000 sq. feet
Designer: Ellerbe Becket, Inc.

^^That is true.

http://www.chinamxc.com.cn/img/cus11.jpg


http://www.dujiang-fire.com/images/dxgc/01.jpg



http://www.chineseman.net/uploadfiles/cffds/eht/10193_0.jpg

:puke:

Thank god? :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDA_-vrbQ4&feature=related

:dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEvtCVT5wWI&feature=related

mimic a heart beat to symbolize the chinese farmers who died to build this. May they rest in piece.

boy have u changed your diapers?

from Beijingupdates.com

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200838164630574.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008381642776872.jpg

from Beijingupdates.com

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200838164630574.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008381642776872.jpg



Hmmmmmmm it is sooo cauldron-like, but isn't it a bit far from the stadium???

can it be seen from inside the stadium?

from Beijingupdates.com

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200838164630574.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008381642776872.jpg

It's one of the (huge) street lamps.

can it be seen from inside the stadium?

Of course not. And even it were say 15 stories high, only 1/3rd of the stadium would be able to see it anyway. That thing is so enclosed that some 3/5ths of the seats won't be able to see the fireworks show they planned for both Opening and Closing. They've prepared for the sun and rain, but not for crucial visual elements of Olympic Ceremonies.

look at the cable, nobody knows what it's used for...

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831211512525024.jpg

thats a lot of cables must be gearing up for something special could be a place for the cauldron but who knows only a dozen in the world would know but can't say till 08/08/08

I think that this stadium is completely awesome:)

there building those "towers" everywhere on the Olympic green... i guess is some kind of solar-panels, or lights http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008312974912230.jpg
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/2008312974982407.jpg

The answer is no :), but it is ture that the Guangdong stadium (Guangzhou"flower") was picked to be the centerpiece of 2008 olympic games until game organizers changed the plan and decided to build the bird's nest in Beijing. Guangdong stadium will not join the olympics this year but it will be the main stadium for 2012 Asian Games.

http://www.newsgd.com/specials/gzbidforasiad/sportsfacilityingz/200403310061_14579.jpg


Location: Guangzhou, China
Capacity: 80012
Area Dimensions: 10,500,000 sq. feet
Designer: Ellerbe Becket, Inc.

Why did they select the Guangzhou Olympic Stadium to be the centrepiece of the Games? They chose to build a new stadium in Beijing after this option failed.

look at the cable, nobody knows what it's used for...Lighting? Fireworks for the ceremonies?

Beijing National Stadium designers win award

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/12/content_7768187.htm



http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/12/xinsrc_5720305120823766108233.jpg http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/12/xinsrc_582030512082344795674.jpg

LONDON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing National Stadium by Herzog & De Meuron and Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition have been declared two of the most innovative and progressive international designs from the last 12 months.

The Design Museum in London made the announcement on Tuesday on design awards across seven major design categories.

"The architecture of the Beijing National Stadium defines the contemporary stadium in a way that has not been seen since the 1972 Olympics in Munich. It embodies the emergence of China as a modern state and crowns the achievements of the remarkable careers of Herzog and de Meuron," commented the judges.

The Beijing National Stadium is the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China in August this year.

The new National Stadium is the most striking of a series of spectacular architectural projects designed for Beijing, said a Design Museum press release.

"The 100,000 seat structure represents the most innovative stadium design since the free-form tent structure used for the Munich Olympic stadium of 1972 and will certainly eclipse London's planned stadium for the 2012 Games. The apparently random steel structure, dubbed for obvious reasons the bird's nest, is an instantly recognizable landmark and a setting in which spectators will be made to feel part of the event," noted the museum.

Other winners include Meyra-Ortopedia's Mex-x wheelchair for kids, which trumps the Transport category, and One Laptop per child by Yves Bhar of Fuseproject, a ground-breaking program taking the Product category. Hussein Chalayan walks away with the Fashion category for Airborne Autumn/Winter 07 with Martino Gamper's 100 Chairs in 100 Days triumphant in the Furniture category.

All designs are part of the 100-strong shortlist at the first ever Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum until April 27, with the seven winners now vying for the overall win at the prestigious inaugural Brit Insurance Design Awards, hosted by Wayne Hemingway next week on March 18.

The expert panel of judges includes Rolf Fehlbaum, Lars Mller and Antonio Citterio who spent hours deliberating the final seven.

Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum said: "The judges certainly had a difficult job in narrowing down such a comprehensive shortlist to just one winner per category. Their final selection however, is a definitive celebration of some of the most internationally innovative designs from the past year."

interesting article about Opening ceremony :
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7378340,00.html

Beijing University of Science and Technology Gym; Judo

http://img1.qq.com/2008/pics/2207/2207796.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20071114/Img214196512_sss.jpg

http://www.cnr.cn/beijing2008/aypd/hybj/cgtp/200711/W020071119735770986277.jpg

University of Beijing Gym; table tennis

http://img1.qq.com/2008/pics/2207/2207948.jpg

http://www.pkuef.org/data/showpic.php?picID=1197597892

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20071203/Img214207691.jpg

China Agicultural University Gym; wrestling

http://www.ambbeijing.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/D47DDB70-7672-4FE7-94B4-5E79214E3192/0/TheChinaAgriculturalUniversityGymnasium.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070819/Img214133612_sss.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070727/Img214115507.jpg

Beijing University of Technology Gym; Badminton, Gymnastics

http://www.sinaimg.cn/2008/en/news/2007-08-29/U2150P461T74D168F1661DT20070829155042.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20071008/Img214172769_sss.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20071008/Img214172751_sss.jpg

Beijing Institute of Technology Gym; Volleyball

http://images.beijing-2008.org/70/77/Img211667770.jpg

I can't find an interior picture, someone please add.

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070907/Img214151292_sss.jpg

Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gym; Weightlifting

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070513/Img214074539.jpg

http://www.cnr.cn/beijing2008/ayyw/200712/W020071218537347505681.jpg

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070623/Img214100854.jpg

Workers' Inddor Arena; boxing

http://www.sinaimg.cn/2008/en/news/2007-08-29/U2150P461T74D163F1661DT20070829153225.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20071115/Img214197056_sss.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20071115/Img214197222_sss.jpg

Beijing Workers' Stadium; football

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070512/Img214073810.jpg

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070512/Img214073811.jpg

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070512/Img214073813.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080229/Img214259232.jpg

Wukesong Indoor Stedium; basketball

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070512/Img214073706_sss.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080107/Img214227428_sss.gif

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20070808/0013729ece6b0823fad300.jpg

Asian Olympics Sports Center Stadium; cross country, Modern Pentathlon

http://images.beijing-2008.org/20070512/Img214073842.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20070906/000802ab4a630849c6d902.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070911/Img214154065.jpg

omg... very cool buildings. This will be a fine olympics :D

^^
"If it rains it must be a lower grade performance," he added. "Some performances in the air or some high tech and mechanical arrangements will have to be cancelled for safety reasons."

Uh oh, spaghettio!

^^


Uh oh, spaghettio!


Whaddya expect? They also had (rain) contingency plans for the last 2 Winter Ceremonies -- Salt Lake and Torino. Except both SLC and Torino got lucky.

That's why I like the design of the Water cube. Hey, they even made it so that it will take advantage of the rain.

Imagine the scene of the Water cube after a rain. The cube, sparking clean after a torrential downpour as the sun starts to shine.....

It'll make a great photo, that's for sure.

Anybody got any idea where I can get more info on the water cube? Like designs, anything?

water cube and bird nest :) (beijingupdates.com)

http://www.artozi.com/artozi/upload/2008/3/11/215_5509f10963f868ef28eb00b8ce265b2c.jpg

http://www.artozi.com/artozi/upload/2008/3/11/215_71eff90d3346944577a3ca643c5f5475.jpg

I prefer the orange coloured light on the birds nest rather than the red :)
i think light blue or white lighting would look fantastic.

Wow!!! Best Olympic venues sofar or may be forever.

Now, let's hope for the best on management and luck for the final results. :)

best venues for an olympics games ever and may remain that way for while yet simply superb

water tube in the blue light is fuc ing amazing.

Beijing Universty of Industry new gym, Badminton and Gymnastics
(beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831423272529526.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831423281630044.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831423301550124.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831423313896846.jpg

unbelievable beijing university must be the envy of every uni around the world with top class sporting facilities

It's a street lamp:

http://img1.qq.com/2008/pics/9254/9254726.jpg


The hole is closed:

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gntu/200803/15/W020080315308959949734.jpg

The screen is on:

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gntu/200803/15/W020080315308960082355.jpg


(All pics from beijingupdates.com)

http://i3.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2008-03-17/U1565P1T1D15165381F21DT20080317111919.jpg http://i1.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2008-03-17/U1565P1T1D15165381F23DT20080317111919.jpg

Wow.
Awesome stadiums.
Thiese are defenitly the best stadiums the world has or will see.

Cheers.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5517/925472615a1f1cezc5.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9163/925473215a22755yg5.jpg

how fast did they construct the light post and wow they are already starting to plant the greenery no doubt these are the best design lightpost i've seen

English version: oh my goodness
Polish version: Ja pierdole
beautiful :nuts:

cool lightposts. so what's the final exterior arrangement for public spaces around this complex?

more from beijingupdates.com:

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831515325142883.jpg

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gntu/200803/15/W020080315308960801003.jpg

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gntu/200803/15/W020080315308961118755.jpg

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gntu/200803/15/W020080315308960222063.jpg

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gntu/200803/15/W020080315308960168816.jpg

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/tp/shfq/news/2008/03-13/U90P4T8D1191439F107DT20080313203949.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083189225998472.jpg

Does Beijing need all of these different stadiums? Couldn't they just use a handful of stadiums for the entire Olympics?

Here are some photos I took 2 weeks ago at the Wukesong Olympic Complex showing the arena and the baseball field.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/963/im000027pj6.jpg
This is the very high tech temp stand! LOL

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1027/im000028ez6.jpg
The athletes entry in the main stand.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4015/im000029px6.jpg
Outside the main arena.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/285/im000030ro1.jpg
Another view.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7965/im000032eo7.jpg
Another view.

a wood cube! :D

Here are some photos I took 2 weeks ago at the Wukesong Olympic Complex showing the arena and the baseball field.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7965/im000032eo7.jpg
Another view.

the 128m multi-purpose broadcasting tower is topped out on 3.13.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200831416512147660.jpg

a wood cube! :D

I saw a TV show about this. Originally the walls were suppose to be giant TV screens so people outside could watch what was going on inside. Apparently either the government or the Beijing Olympic committee did not like the overall look so they cover it with this bamboo like screen. I think a Swiss company that was behind the design left the project when that decision was made.

Persoanlly I would've rather seen the TV screens.

(from beijingupdates.com, photo by Ma Wenxiao, 11/26/2007)


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083201518487313.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832015195626328.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/200832015213979701.jpg


http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-3/20083201522426873.jpg

Does Beijing need all of these different stadiums? Couldn't they just use a handful of stadiums for the entire Olympics?

have you ever watched the Olympics before
yes you need all these different stadiums and arenas, what are you complaining about anyways?

STOP POSTING OLD PHOTOS!

I'm sorry, but, the inside of that stadium looks cold, lifeless, and dead. This stadium is a perfect example of a rendering that looks 100 times better than the completed project....

yeah. at the renderings it looked better

i do not understand why they have installed also grey seats

STOP POSTING OLD PHOTOS!

Excuse me, are you the mayor of skyscrapercity or something?! If you are not, then SHUT UP!

yeah. at the renderings it looked better

i do not understand why they have installed also grey seats

Seats are red, grey is covers over seats which is normal whilst construction is still taking place.

I'm sorry, but, the inside of that stadium looks cold, lifeless, and dead. This stadium is a perfect example of a rendering that looks 100 times better than the completed project....

Most stadia are same, I cannot speak yor mind but I think you might feel differently when stadium is open and operational. The pitch will make a big difference once it is installed after opening ceremony.

Excuse me, are you the mayor of skyscrapercity or something?! If you are not, then SHUT UP!

there is no need to see photos from 4 months ago

There are not many pics to show what the whole stadium looks like from above, that's why I think these photos are "new".