(BEIJING, May 14) -- A group of Chinese website editors were amazed by the magnificent architectural style of Laoshan Velodrome in western Beijing on Wednesday while on a tour of the venue organized by BOCOG.

With seating capacity for 6,000, the 33,320-square-meter, three-story facility will host cycling track competitions during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Capped with a dish-shaped dome where more than 200 lights are installed, the venue has a 250m-long all-weather wooden cycle track on its floor, surrounded by rows of blue spectator chairs.

The velodrome features a lattice-framed steel structure, with a horizontal shadow spanning 133.06m, and a diameter of 150m. To put 1,400 tones of steel structure in place, engineers and workers displayed their "weaving" skills on and above ground.

They set up two platforms on a 500m-long round steel rail to lift the beams and gradually expanded the surface on which the supportive structures are erected. At one juncture, it took four hours for 700 workers to use 64 capstan engines to put the dome's skeleton in place.

The project is highlighted by a round roof skylight 56m in diameter. The skylight can use solar energy for lighting and diffuse sunlight to reduce glare on the cycling track. The skylight's windows automatically open to let out smoke in case of fire. In addition, the skylight can help ventilate the building. Up to 240 sq m of the skylight can open to let in fresh air.

To adapt to the lighting needs of different parts of the track, the velodrome's 230 overhead lamps are equipped with special materials placed in different positions.

The velodrome's round track is 250 meters long and 11 meters wide. The wood-surface track has a seven-meter race lane and a four-meter safety lane. The track is banked at between 13 degrees and 47 degrees, according to the standards set by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

The velodrome is also designated for the Paralympic Track Cycling competitions. The venue has a designated elevator to accommodate athletes with a disability when they need to access the basement-level athletes' lounge, which is five meters below the competition ground. The elevator can accommodate an athlete, two bicycles and anyone accompanying him, as well as a stretcher to transport injured athletes.

The venue's functions were tested through the UCI Track Cycling World Cup "Classic" on December 9, 2007. After 2008, it will become a training base for international teams, a venue for large-scale cycling competitions and a place to educate youth.