The "Bird's Nest" Stadium Of Beijing Olympics Ready

The main venue for Beijing's Olympic Games - the "Bird's Nest" stadium - is complete and fully operational, Chinese officials have said.

The 91,000-seat stadium will host the Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies as well as athletics events.

A network of steel girders gives the stadium its nest-like appearance. All 37 venues for the Games are now ready.

The International Olympic Committee has praised Beijing's preparations, but said air quality was a concern.

The Bird's Nest - or National Stadium - was designed by award-winning Swiss firm Herzog and de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang.

The design beat dozens of other entries in a worldwide competition held in 2003.

"The Bird's Nest is the last completed Olympic venue but the best," said project manager Tan Xiaochun.

The project was completed at a cost of $500m (£250m).

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