The competition venues for the Beijing Olympics are featured on this page. Click on the category below to see a list of links to the venues, which will appear to the right of the list.

Choose a category to see a list of venues.

National Stadium

Location: Olympic Green

Total land surface (sq. m.): 250,800

Seats: 91,000

Use during the Games: Opening and Closing ceremonies; Athletics, Football

Post-Games use: The Stadium is to stage sports events at national and international levels, as well as cultural and entertaining activities.

Groundbreaking date: 24 December 2003

Estimated completion date: 8 May 2008

Designer: Herzog & DeMeuron (Swiss) and China Architecture Design Institute

Status: 16 April 2008- 'Bird's Nest' opens to the media.

Category: New Competition Venue


Relationship of the National Stadium to other venues in the Olympic Green.

Interior concept.
   

Night view concept.

Outside, daytime ground-level concept.
   

Bird's eye view concept.

Underground auxiliary facilities concept.
   

Actual National Stadium at night.

Actual National Stadium at night.
   

Actual National Stadium at night.

The old and the new.
   

Actual interior view.
   

National Aquatics Center

Location: Olympic Green

Total land surface: 79,532 sq m

Seats: 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary

Use during the Games: Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronized Swimming

Groundbreaking date: 24 December 2003

Completion date: 28 January 2008

Category: New Competition Venue


Effect model of the National Aquatic Center.

Night scene of the Center.
 

Concept interior view.

Concept interior view.
   

Concept bird's eye view, with National Stadium.

Concept exterior day-time view.
   

Concept exterior night-time view.

Concept exterior night-time view.
   
   

National Indoor Stadium

Location: Olympic Green

Total land surface (10,000 sq. m.): 8.09

Use during the Games: Artistic Gymnastics, Trampolines, and Handball

Post-Games use: The venue, one of the best sports facilities in Beijing, can be used for sports competition, cultural and entertaining purposes, and will serve as a multi-functional exercise center for local residents.

Groundbreaking date: May 28, 2005

Category: New Competition Venue


Bird's eye view of the Stadium.
   

The Stadium.

Effect model of the National Indoor Stadium.

Beijing Shooting Range Hall

Location: Shijingshan District, Beijing

Total land surface (sq. m.): 45,645

Use during the Games: Qualifications and finals of 11 shooting events, consisting of all 10-meter, 25-meter, and 50-meter range shooting events. The entire shooting sports of the 2008 Paralympic Games will also be held in the venue.

Groundbreaking date: July 13, 2004

Category: New Competition Venue


Bird's eye view of the Beijing Shooting Range Hall.
 

Effect model of the main entrance.

Perspective view of the western side of the entrance square.
   

Perspective view of the eastern corner.

Effect model of the interior of the 50-meter range shooting hall.
   

Effect model of the interior of the venue for the finals.

Effect model of the inspectors' lounge inside the venue for the qualifications.

Wukesong Indoor Stadium

Location: Wukesong Culture and Sports Center

Total land surface (sq. m.): 63,000

Use during the Games: Basketball

Post-Games use: The stadium, which includes Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Wukesong Baseball Fields, and sports and commercial facilities, will be able to meet the needs of residents in western Beijing

Groundbreaking date: March 29, 2005

Category: New Competition Venue


Effect model.
 

Wukesong Basketball Stadium.

Effect model.

Laoshan Velodrome

Location: Laoshan, Shijinshan District, Beijing

Total land surface (sq. m.): 32,920

Seats: 6,000

Use during the Games: Cycling (track)

Groundbreaking date: Oct. 30, 2004

Category: New Competition Venue


Bird's eye view.

Scenograph.
 

Laoshan Velodrome under construction.

Laoshan Velodrome under construction.

Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park

Location: Mapo Village, Shunyi District, Beijing

Use during the Games: Rowing, Canoe/Kayak (flat-water racing and Slalom Racing)

Category: New Competition Venue


Bird's eye view.
   

Main stand.

Dynamic water area.
   

Static water area.

Terminal tower.

China Agricultural University Gymnasium

Location: China Agricultural University (East Campus)

Total land surface (sq. m.): 23,950

Seats: 6,000 permanent and 2,000 removable

Use during the Games: Wrestling

Post-Games use: The gym will have a warm-up court and spaces for various sport competitions and large-scale activities, such as badminton, table tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, handball and indoor football matches.

Groundbreaking date: June, 2005

Category: New Competition Venue


Effect model.

A bird's eye view of the Stadium at night.
   

Ground view of the stadium at night.

The exterior of the stadium.
   

The interior of the stadium.

The interior of the stadium.

Beijing University Gymnasium

Location: Beijing University

Total land surface (sq. m.): 26,900

Seats: 6,000 permanent and 2,000 removable

Use during the Games: Table Tennis

Post-Games use: The Gym can be utilized for a score of competitions, including table tennis, handball, basketball, badminton, and volleyball. The Gym will also meet the needs of physical education, training and recreation.

Category: New Competition Venue


Bird's eye view in the daytime.
 

Night scene.

Perspective view from inside.

Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium

Location: Beijing Science and Technology University

Total land surface (sq. m.): 23,993

Seats: 4,068 permanent and 3,956 temporary

Use during the Games: Judo and Taekwondo

Post-Games use: The Gym will serve as a comprehensive indoor center for various sports activities, aquatics and fitness training, and will also be suitable for indoor athletic competitions.

Category: New Competition Venue


Bird's eye view.

Bird's eye view.
 

Perspective view from inside.

Scenograph.

Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium

Location: Beijing University of Technology

Total land surface (sq. m.): 22,269

Seats: 7,500

Use during the Games: Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics

Post-Games use: The Gym will provide spaces for activities of students and faculty, whilst facilitating the training of the badminton teams affiliated with the International Badminton Federation and the General Administration of Sports. The Gym will also be moderately open to the public.

Groundbreaking date: June 30, 2005

Category: New Competition Venue


Effect model.

Effect model.
 

Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Court

Location: Olympic Green

Floor area (sq m): 26,514

Seats: 17,400

Use during the Games: Tennis

Groundbreaking date: March 23, 2007

Planned completion date: October 1, 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Bird's eye view of the court.
 

Interior of the court.

'Lotus flowers' as a design concept of the venue.

Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium

Location: Olympic Sports Center

Use during the Games: Handball

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Full view of the Gym.

Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium.

Workers' Stadium

Location: Gongti Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing

Use during the Games: Football

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Workers' Stadium, effect model.

Full view of the Stadium.
   

Full view of the Stadium.

Workers' Stadium.

Workers' Indoor Arena

Location: Gongti Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing

Use during the Games: Boxing

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Workers' Indoor Arena, effect model.

Full view of the Arena.
   

Full view of the Arena.

Workers' Indoor Arena.

Capital Indoor Stadium

Location: Baishi Bridge, Haidian District, Beijing

Use during the Games: Volleyball

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Capital Indoor Stadium.

Capital Indoor Stadium.
   

Capital Indoor Stadium.

Capital Indoor Stadium.

Fengtai Softball Field

Location: Fengtai Sports Center

Use during the Games: Softball

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Effect model of Fengtai Softball Field.

Effect model of Fengtai Softball Field.
   

Bird's eye view of the field.

Yingdong Natatorium

Location: Olympic Sports Center

Floor area (sq m): 44,635

Seats: 4,852

Use during the Games: Water Polo, Modern Pentathlon (swimming)

Groundbreaking date (renovation): 1 April 2006

Completion date (renovation): 10 September 2007

Category: Existing Competition Venue (renovated)


Concept exterior view.

Actual exterior view.
   

Interior.

Interior.
   

Interior.

Laoshan Mountain Bike Course

Location: Laoshan, Shijingshan District, Beijing

Floor area (sq m): 8,725

Temporary seats: 2,000 (Standing seats 15,000)

Use during the Games: Cycling (Mountain Bike)

Groundbreaking date (renovation): 31 May 2006

Completion date (renovation): 13 September 2007

Category: Existing Competition Venue (renovated)


Concept bird's eye view.

Completed exterior.

Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field

Location: Xiangshan nan Rd.

Use during the Games: Qualifications and finals of 11 shooting events, consisting of all 10-meter, 25-meter, and 50-meter range shooting events. The entire shooting sports of the 2008 Paralympic Games will also be held in the venue.

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Bird's eye view of the clay target field.

Effect model of the field.
   

The Beijing Shooting Range before the renovation.

The Beijing Shooting Range under construction.

The Beijing Shooting Range under construction.

Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium

Location: Beijing Institute of Technology

Use during the Games: Volleyball

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Bird's eye view of the Gym.

Plane coloring.

Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium

Location: Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics

Floor area (sq m): 21,000

Permanent seats: 3,400

Temporary seats: 2,600

Use during the Games: Weightlifting

Groundbreaking date (renovation): 31 January 2007

Completion date (renovation): 18 December 2007

Category: Existing Competition Venue (renovated)

NOTE:

The former location for the weightlifting competitions is the gymnasium at Beihang University.

Location:

Use during the Games: Weightlifting

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Concept bird's eye view.

Concept exterior day-time view.
   

Concept interior.

Concept exterior night-time view.
   

Actual exterior.

Actual interior.

Olympic Sports Center Stadium

Location: Southern part of Olympic Sports Center

Seats: 40,000

Use during the Games: Football, Modern Pentathlon (running and equestrian)

Category: Existing Competition Venue


Effect model of the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Effect model of the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
 

Effect model of the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Effect model of the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
   

Effect model of the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Stand of the Stadium.
   

Stand of the Stadium.

A panorama of the Stadium.

Fencing Gymnasium, National Conference Center

Pictures

Location: Olympic Green

Use during the Games: Fencing preliminaries and finals, and Modern Pentathlon (fencing and shooting)

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Bird's eye view of the Fencing Gym.

Bird's eye view of the Fencing Gym.
 

Effect model of the Fencing Gym at night.

Hockey Field

Location: Olympic Green

Floor area (sq m): 15,539

Seats: 17,000

Use for Olympic Games: Hockey

Use for Paralympics Games: Football

Groundbreaking date: 28 December 2005

Completion date: 7 August 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Concept view.

Spectator stands.

Hockey field.

Archery Field

Location: Olympic Green

Floor area (sq m): 8,609

Seats: 5,000

Use for Olympic Games: Archery

Use for Paralympics Games: Archery

Groundbreaking date: 28 December 2005

Completion date: 7 August 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Concept bird's eye view.

Actual view of the stands and field.

Wukesong Baseball Field

Location: Wukesong Culture and Sports Center

Floor area (sq m): 14,360

Seats: 15,000

Use for Olympic Games: Baseball

Use for Paralympics Games: n/a

Groundbreaking date: 22 December 2005

Completion date: 15 August 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Concept night-time view.

Concept day-time view.
   

Concept view.

Beach Volleyball Ground

Location: Chaoyang Park

Floor area (sq m): 14,150

Seats: 12,200

Use for Olympic Games: Beach Volleyball

Use for Paralympics Games: n/a

Groundbreaking date: 28 December 2005

Completion date: 13 August 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Concept bird's eye view.

Actual interior.

Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Field

Location: Laoshan, Shijingshan District, Beijing

Floor area (sq m): 3,650

Seats: 4,000

Use for Olympic Games: Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX)

Use for Paralympics Games: n/a

Groundbreaking date: 30 December 2006

Completion date: 15 August 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Concept bird's eye view.
   

Venue in use during the Good Luck Beijing Games, August 2007.

Venue in use during the Good Luck Beijing Games, August 2007.
   

Track and stands.

Track curve and stands.

Triathlon Venue

Location: Ming Tomb Reservoir

Floor area (sq m): n/a

Seats: 10,000

Use for Olympic Games: Triathlon

Use for Paralympics Games: n/a

Groundbreaking date: April 2007

Completion date: 14 September 2007

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Triathlon swimming venue in the Ming Tombs Reservoir.

Bird's eye view.

Urban Road Cycling Course

Location; Start Point: Yongdingmen, En route: Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, Chongwen District, Xuanwu District, Chaoyang District, Haidian District, Changping District, Yanqing District, End Point: Juyongguan

Course length: 103.9 km

Seats: 3,000

Use for Olympic Games: Road Cycling

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date: April, 2007

Completion date: Undetermined

Category: Temporary Competition Venue


Starting point in Yongdingmen.

Ending point in Juyongguan.

Qingdao International Sailing Centre

Location; Start Point: City of Qingdao

Course length: n/a

Seats: 3,000

Use for Olympic Games: Sailing

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date: April, 2007

Completion date: 24 July 2007

Category: New Competition Venue

Qingdao

Qingdao is located on the southern coastline of the Shandong Peninsula, in east China's Shandong Province. Dubbed "Eastern Switzerland", Qingdao is one of China's most important port cities. With an area of 10,654 km2, it has a population of 7.31 million by the end of 2004.
A unique blend of sea and mountains and a pleasant climate make Qingdao extraordinary. It has an average temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius and a total length of coastline (including that of its 69 offshore islands) of 862.64 kilometers, of which 730 kilometers are continental.
Qingdao is an important manufacturing centre, an ice-free seaport and one of the most important textile industrial centers in China. It is also famed as a transit pivot for Eurasia and the Pacific region.

Qingdao International Sailing Centre

The Qingdao International Sailing Centre for the Games of the 29th Olympiad is located on the old site of the Beihai shipyard by Qingdao's Fushan Bay in China's Shangdong Province. The Centre will cover a total area of 45 hectares (450,000 sq.m.), two thirds of which will be utilized for the competitions.
The whole project is comprised of the Land Area, and the Harbor and the Off-shore Section. The projects on land will provide the administration and competition management centre, the athletes' centre, the press centre, the logistic and functional centre, and other affiliated facilities as well. The Harbor and Off-Shore parts will focus on the engineering of the major and secondary breakwater, an embankment, a quay featuring the Olympic Memorial Wall, and the renovation of the shore wall.
The quay, the secondary breakwater, and the embankment will enclose an area of 15.5 hectares (155,000 sq.m.) while the major breakwater, together with the embankment, will occupy 7.5 hectares (75,000 sq.m.). Additional overlay and facilities will also be placed for temporary use of the Games. A removable surveying shed and a pontoon, for instance, will be set up separately on the embankment and the western quay to facilitate observations and transportation.


Waves gently lap against the new dock.

The new gulf for the Olympic Sailing events.
   

Bird's eye view of the sailing venue's central section.

A bird's eye view of the Sailing Center at night
 

Geographical representation of the Olympic facilities.

Environmental layout in the area.

Hong Kong Equestrian Venues

Location; Start Point: Hong Kong

Course length: Undetermined

Seats: 3,000

Use for Olympic Games: Equestrian

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date (renovation): December 2005

Completion date (renovation): 11 November 2007

Category: Existing Competition Venue (renovation)

Hong Kong

Situated at China's southeastern coastline, Hong Kong has a population of 6.9 million and a total area of 1,103 square kilometers, which consists of the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and 262 outlying islands. Hong Kong features a sub-tropical climate. Temperatures can drop below 10 degrees Celsius in winter and exceed 31 degrees Celsius in summer.

The Equestrian Events

All circles in Hong Kong were delighted at July 8s announcement that Hong Kong would co-host the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games. Local authorities had pledged to provide the utmost guarantee of facilities for the success of the Olympic equestrian events.

The Equestrian events will be held at the Hong Kong Sports Institute and Penfold Park in Shatin, Beas River Country Club and part of the adjacent Hong Kong Golf Club. Hong Kong has in place world-class equine care facilities and medical services for horses, and a group of professionals in the Equestrian events. Hong Kong also has recognized quarantine protocol arrangements with many countries. Besides, Hong Kong's Equestrian sport for riders with disabilities is well-established and takes a leading position in Asia.


Shatian racetrack.

Bird's eye view at night.
 

Bird's eye view.
 

The site Hong Kong programmed for staging the cross-country eventing of the 2008 Olympic equestrian sport.

Scale model of Hong Kong's all-weather sand venue designed with a capacity of 20,000 seats for the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium

Location: Tianjin

Floor area (sq m): 158,000

Seats: 60,000

Use for Olympic Games: Football Preliminary

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date (renovation): December 2005

Completion date (renovation): 16 August 2007

Category: New Competition Venue

Tianjin

Known as "Diamond of the Bohai Gulf", Tianjin is the gateway to the Chinese capital Beijing. With a population of more than 10 million, it is one of the country's biggest industrial centers and one of the key ports. Tianjin's annual average temperature is 12.2 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Celsius in January and 26.8 degrees Celsius in July).

Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium

Serving as one of the Football venues, the Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium covers 78,000 square meters, with a seating capacity of 60, 000. The project went into construction in August 2003 and is due for completion in 2006. Designed by AXS SAWTO Inc. (Japan), the project fully reflects the three Olympic concepts: "Green Olympics," "High-tech Olympics," and "People's Olympics."
The six-floor stadium, with a length, width, and height of 380, 270, and 53 meters, respectively, can meet the standards of staging international football games and athletics. Along with such affiliated facilities as big marketplace, exhibition hall, conference room, and gym, the stadium is also able to provide the public with space for entertaining, exercising, and shopping.
The ground floor of the stadium includes a 22,670 square meter indoor parking lot, a 3,460 sq. m. exhibition hall, a 6,400 sq. m. dining room, a 5,930 sq. m. health care centre, and a 4,010 sq. m. section for both athletes and referees.
The franchised stores, the health care centre, and the international convention centre on the first floor cover an area of 3,840, 130, and 85 sq. m., respectively.
The second floor contains a 4,320 sq. m. sports and exercise hall, an 85 sq. m. international convention centre, and a 130 sq. m. health care centre.
There is a 4,166 sq. m. box, a 3,030 sq. m. international convention centre, and a 1,440 sq. m. health care centre on the third floor, while there is a 345 sq. m. international convention centre, and a 1,300 sq. m. health care centre on the fourth floor.
The spectator stand, the 8+1 racetrack, the training field, and the turf field cover 34,740 sq. m., 4,560 sq. m., 20,000 sq. m., and 7,680 sq. m., respectively.
The Olympic Centre Stadium is able to accommodate up to 80,000 people, including 500 of the platform and 300 of the press box.

The Olympic Centre

The Tianjin Olympic Centre is situated to the southwest of the city's downtown area. Covering a total of 966,000 sq. m., the Center is divided into three sections ¨C the competition section, the comprehensive section, and the accommodation section ¨C with an investment of 880 million US dollars.
The competition section, the comprehensive section, and the accommodation section occupy an area of 453,000 sq. m., 280,000 sq. m., and 233,000 sq. m., separately.
The competition section consists of a grand stadium, an aquatic sports centre, an international sports exchange centre, and an existing Tianjin sports indoor stadium.


The Stadium under construction.

Construction site of the Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium.
   

Concept model of the Stadium.

Concept model of the Stadium.
   

Concept view of the stadium at night.

Concept view of the stadium.
   

Scale model of the square ahead of the Stadium.

Scale model of the square ahead of the Stadium at night.
   

Actual night-time view.

Interior view.

Shanghai Stadium

Location: Shanghai

Floor area (sq m): 190,000

Seats: 80,000

Use for Olympic Games: Football Preliminary

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date: n/a

Completion date: n/a

Category: Existing Competition Venue

Shanghai

Shanghai is situated in the middle of the east coastline and southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta. It is China's major industrial and commercial centre. Shanghai has a population of over 13.5 million, ranking first in China in terms of population and population density. It is an important hub for land, marine and air transportation in China, with its ports ice-free all the year round.
Shanghai is characterized by a warm spring, hot summer, cool autumn and cold winter. July and August are Shanghai's hottest months, with an average temperature of 27.4 degrees Celsius. In winter, January is the coldest month, with a temperature averaging at 3 degrees Celsius.

The Shanghai Stadium

The Shanghai Stadium will serve as one of the Football venues for the 2008 Games. Built in 1997, the stadium covers 190,000 square meters and has a seating capacity of 80,000.


The spectator stand.

The stadium turf.
   

The interior of the Shanghai Stadium.

The exterior of the Shanghai Stadium.
   

Training field.

The display screen.
   

Bird's eye view of the Stadium at night.

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium

Location: Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province

Floor area (sq m): 168,000

Seats: 33,572

Use for Olympic Games: Football Preliminary

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date: May 2002

Completion date: 30 July 2004

Category: New Competition Venue

Qinhuangdao

Located in Hebei Province of northern China, Qinhuangdao is a beautiful coastal city known for its nice and ice-free port, the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan Pass and the summer resort in Beidaihe. With a population of 2.7 million, Qinhuangdao lies between mountains and the sea, and enjoys a pleasant climate without cold winters or hot summers. The yearly temperatures average at 10.5 degrees Celsius.

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre

The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium will serve as one of the Football venues during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The stadium lies inside the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre on the Hebei Avenue.

The construction was started in May 2002 and completed on July 30, 2004. Covering 168,000 square meters, the Olympic-standard stadium has a seating capacity of 33,572, 0.2% of which are reserved for the disabled persons.


Concept bird's eye view.
   

Night view of the Centre.

Interior.
 

The spectator stand.

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre.

Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium

Location: Shenyang

Floor area (sq m): 190,000

Seats: 60,000

Use for Olympic Games: Football

Use for Paralympics Games: Undetermined

Groundbreaking date: 1 March 2006

Completion date: 5 November 2006

Category: New Competition Venue


Concept bird's eye view.
   

Night view.

Night view.
   

Interior.