Beijing National Stadium

The National Stadium (国家体育场, Guójiā Tǐyùchǎng), also called the Bird's Nest (鸟巢), is a large stadium located at Olympic Green in Chaoyang, Beijing, China. It was built especially for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. This amazing building covers an area of 204,000 square meters and can hold up to 80,000 people, with even more space for temporary seats.

Construction began in December 2003 and the stadium was finished in June 2008. After the games, it continued to be used for many important events, including the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is owned by a partnership between Beijing Municipal State-owned Assets Management Co Ltd and CITIC Group. Its unique design makes it one of the most famous buildings in the world.

History

The Beijing National Stadium, also called the Bird's Nest, is located at the Olympic Green in Beijing. It cost US$428 million to build. In April 2003, a design by the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron was chosen. This design was inspired by Chinese ceramics and looks like a bird's nest. The famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei helped with the design.

Construction began on December 24, 2003, and the stadium opened on June 28, 2008. After the Olympics, the stadium has had trouble getting events, so plans include adding a shopping mall and a hotel to bring more people to the area.

Features and events

The eastern and western stands of Beijing National Stadium are higher than the northern and southern stands to improve views. The stadium has a special system to collect rainwater, which is cleaned and reused. Under the playing surface, there are pipes that heat the stadium in winter and cool it in summer. Originally, the stadium was designed to hold 100,000 people, but this was reduced to 91,000. After the 2008 Summer Olympics, 11,000 temporary seats were removed, bringing the current capacity down to 80,000. The farthest seat is 460 feet from the center of the field. The design also helps with airflow and temperature for better comfort.

Beijing National Stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, athletic events, and football final of the 2008 Summer Olympics from August 8 to August 24, 2008. It also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and athletic events of the 2008 Summer Paralympics from September 6 to September 17, 2008. Though built for track and field events, the stadium has continued to host many sports events, such as football. Plans include adding a shopping mall and a hotel to bring more visitors after the Olympics.

The stadium hosted the 2009 Race of Champions motor racing event. In 2014 and 2015, it hosted the Beijing ePrix as part of the FIA Formula E Championship. In November 2010, it was announced that the 2015 World Championships in Athletics would be held there, with the event returning in 2027. In July 2017, the stadium hosted Monster Jam and Stadium Super Trucks, marking their first races in China. On November 4, 2017, it hosted the League of Legends World Championship 2017 Finals.

From 2014 to 2022, the finals of the Chinese singing competition The Voice of China, later called Sing! China, were held at the stadium. These finals usually took place on October 7 or during the Golden Week.

In late 2017, the stadium began hosting both local and international pageant events.

The stadium's owners announced plans in January 2009 to build a shopping and entertainment complex around it. Despite some criticism about its condition, the stadium remains a popular tourist spot and continues to host sports and entertainment events. It was also used for a special art performance in July 2021 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

The stadium was used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics. It is the only stadium to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics and Paralympics opening and closing ceremonies.