After more than four years of construction work, the Olympic venue in Beijing is ready to join the games.

The blue-coloured National Aquatics Center (NAC), nicknamed the “Water Cube” is a new landmark in Beijing, designed by PTW Architects from Australia. The air cushion structures are the first of their kind to be used in China and the largest and most complicated membrane system in any single project in the world.

With the efforts of various participants, many scientific and technical difficulties were overcome. Among the achievements, nine important self-dependent innovations resolved difficult topics related to the project's steel structures, membrane structures and inner layout, formulated related work procedures and technical regulations, and filled the gap in China's field of architecture.

A bird's eye view, with the National Stadium in the background.

The NAC is the only Olympic venue to be funded by donations from compatriots. It reflects the unity of the Chinese at home and abroad to stage the Olympic Games through joint efforts.

Located on the southern part of the central area of the Olympic Green in Beijing, the NAC has a planned construction area of 6.95 hectares. Being adjacent to the central axis of the city, the NAC is situated on par with the National Stadium, at an equal distance to the axis.

The NAC's Games-time construction area is close to 80,000 square meters, containing 17,000 standard seats, including 6,000 permanent seats and 11,000 temporary ones. During the 2008 Olympic Games, it will produce 42 gold medals in swimming, diving and synchronized swimming.

After the Olympics, it will be converted into a multi-functional facility for sports, culture and recreation, featuring a "water setting" for members of society.