http://wiki.china.org.cn/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=National_StadiumNational Stadium - Revision history2026-04-24T07:33:09ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.34.2http://wiki.china.org.cn/index.php?title=National_Stadium&diff=11515&oldid=previmported>Ciic at 04:04, 4 September 20122012-09-04T04:04:03Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:ns.jpg|thumb|260px|National Stadium, dubbed the Bird's Nest]]<br />
The '''National Stadium''', as the main track and field stadium for the [http://www.china.org.cn/olympic/node_1114380.htm Beijing 2008 Olympics], is dubbed the '''Bird's Nest''' ('''鸟巢''') because of its innovative grid formation.<br />
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The twig-like structural elements and the bowl-shaped roof are the masterpiece of the project, yet they pose great challenges for technicians and workers to make the building stand on its own feet.<br />
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The stadium can seat as many as 91,000 spectators during the Olympics. It is located right next to the Beijing [[National Aquatics Center]].<br />
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In 2002, government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron collaborated with ArupSport and China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition. Contemporary Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, is the Artistic Consultant for design.<br />
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The ground was broken on Christmas Eve December 2003, and construction started in March 2004.<br />
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It was built with 36 km of unwrapped steel, with a combined weight of 45,000 tonnes. The stadium has some 11,000 square metres of underground rooms with waterproof walls.<br />
[[Category:Sports venues]][[Category: National stadiums]][[category:Venues of the 2008 Summer Olympics]][[Category:architecture]]</div>imported>Ciic