Scene of the press conference.

(September 20, 2005, Beijing) -- Construction of four temporary venues for the 2008 Olympic Games and six new roads leading to Olympic venues will be initiated in the next 10 days, an official in charge of the Beijing Olympic venue construction announced today.

"In line with the 2005 venue construction schedule, construction will begin for the temporary venues to be used in the hockey, archery, beach volleyball and baseball events," Jin Yan, director of the Beijing "2008" Project Construction Headquarters Office, told a press conference at the Beijing Olympic Media Centre.

This was the year’s third such press briefing by the Beijing "2008" Project Construction Headquarters, which oversees construction and renovation of venues and auxiliary facilities for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Jin also reviewed the latest developments for other venues currently underway (see backgrounder).

Based on the principles of "safety, quality, time line, function and cost," he said, stable progress has been made in Beijing’s efforts to build new venues, renovate existing ones and establish temporary venues, or overlays.

"Safety and quality of all the Olympic venue projects are under control," Jin said.

Immediately after the press conference, participating media toured the construction site of the National Indoor Stadium, where gymnastics, trampoline and handball events will be held during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Backgrounder

Achievement in Olympic venue construction

1. National Stadium: The concrete structure for the stands has been finished. Work is being done on the stadium’s principal steel structure.

2. National Aquatics Centre: Work on the main concrete structure has been completed. The steel structure for the walls is being installed. Work on the secondary structure above the ground is underway and the mechanical and electrical utilities are being installed.

3. Beijing Shooting Range Hall: The principal reinforced structures for the qualification competition halls and the final competition hall have been finished. Steel roof structures and glass curtain walls are being installed.

4. Laoshan Velodrome: The principal reinforced structures have been finished. Steel roof racks and strut beams are being installed.

5. Wukesong Indoor Stadium: Work on the above-ground structures is underway. Preparations are being made for the construction of the steel structures.

6. National Indoor Stadium: Work on vertical structures above the ground is underway.

7. China Agriculture University Gymnasium: Basic earthwork is in progress.

8. Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium: Basic earthwork has been finished, with basic work for independent poles and concrete work for ground floor experimental poles underway.

9. Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Cannoeing Park: Racing courses are being dug, and mounds in the dynamic water area being created.

10. Peking University Gymnasium: Work on slope protection poles has been finished. Preparation is being made for the basic earthwork.

11. Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium: Basic earthwork is being done.

12. Fengtai Softball Field: The auxiliary building has been topped. Work on principal structures of the competition field and the standby field is being done.

13. Fencing Gymnasium (National Conference Centre): Construction of the fencing gymnasium, as an overlay within the National Conference Centre, is well underway.

14. National Conference Centre: Work on the vertical structure above the ground is underway.
15. Digital Beijing Building: Work on the vertical structure of the underground level is being done.

16. The Olympic Village: Work on the underground structure in Area A1 is being done. Work has begun on the vertical structure above the ground in other areas.

17. The Olympic Forest Park and the Media Village: Basic earthwork is being done.