Beijing National Stadium

National Stadium
Bird's Nest
Map
Full nameNational Stadium
LocationBeijing, China
Capacity80,000
91,000 (2008 Summer Olympics)
45,550 (2022 Winter Olympics)
[3]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Started24 December 2003
Opened28 June 2008
Construction costUS$423 million[1]: 93 
($532 million in 2025 dollars[2])
ArchitectHerzog & de Meuron
ArupSport
China Architectural Design & Research Group
Ai Weiwei (Artistic consultant)
Structural engineerArup
Tenants
2008 Summer Olympics
2022 Winter Olympics
Supercoppa Italiana (2009, 2011–12)
2015 World Championships in Athletics

Beijing National Stadium is a stadium in Beijing, China. It is officially called the National Stadium and also known as the Bird's Nest (鸟巢). The stadium was build to be the main venue during the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The stadium cost US$423 million. A shopping mall and a hotel are planned to be built. This will increase use of the stadium. There was trouble attracting events, football and otherwise, after the Olympics.[4]

Inside of the stadium during the 2008 Summer Olympics

The eastern and western stands of Beijing National Stadium are higher than northern and southern stands. This is in order to improve sightlines.[5] A 24-hour per day rainwater collector is near the stadium. After water is purified, it is used throughout and around the stadium.[6][7] Pipes were placed under the playing surface to gather heat in the winter to warm the stadium and coldness in the summer to cool the stadium. The stadium's design originally could fit until 100,000 people in their maximum capacity.During the bulding phase, near 9,000 seats were removed from the design due the security and logistics factors. After the 2008 Summer Olympics,a near batch of another 11.000 temporary seats were removed. Now the stadium can support a maximum public of 80.000 people.[3][8]

The stadium hosted the 2009 Race of Champions.[9] In July 2010, the stadium hosted a friendly football match between Premier League team Birmingham City and Beijing Guoan. In August 2011, the Bird's Nest hosted the Supercoppa Italiana. This was the stadium's second in three years.

The 2015 World Championships in Athletics took place at the Beijing National Stadium.[10] The venue was the first Summer and Winter Olympics main venue as also hosted the Opening and Closing ceremonies during the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics also held in Beijing.

39°59′30″N 116°23′26″E / 39.99167°N 116.39056°E / 39.99167; 116.39056

References

  1. ↑ Pasternack, Alex (2008). "National Stadium". Architectural Record. Clifford A. Pearson: 92–9. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  2. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Beijing National Stadium, Olympic Green". East Asia. Arup. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  4. ↑ Demick, Barbara (22 February 2009). "Beijing's Olympic building boom becomes a bust". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  5. ↑ "Architect: After-Games use is taken into consideration". National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 28 June 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  6. ↑ "Bird's Nest welcomes rain". National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 29 June 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "A green Bird's Nest". National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  8. ↑ "Boxes inside 'Bird's Nest'". National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 29 June 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  9. ↑ "Race of Champions moves to Beijing". Haymarket Publications. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  10. ↑ "Beijing selected to host 2015 World Championships". www.iaaf.org. IAAF. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.