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The Beijing National Aquatic Center Water Cube is Open for Business - Swim On!
The Beijing Water Cube - Big, Fast, And Green for the 2008 Olympic Games

By Mat Luebbers, About.com

The Water Cube is Open

The Water Cube is Open

Feng Li/Getty Images
The home for swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, is the National Aquatic Center - or the Watercube. With three pools under one big roof, the Water Cube will seat about 17,000 people for the 2008 Olympic Games. It has all the latest technology in place to put it among the fastest pools in the world.

The award winning Beijing Watercube is designed by Chris Bosse. Some of the original architectural plans and concepts for the Watercube, including perspectives, models, floor plans, and the idea behind the bubble-like outer structure, are on the architects web site. There is even a short Watercube animated video that almost makes you feel like you are there.

The Water Cube, along with many of the other Olympic Games venues, have been built with an eye towards keeping things green and water conservation. The National Aquatic Center was also planned to be the home for Olympic Swimming, then change after the conclusion of the games. After the games, much of the seating will be removed and the pool will become a training and recreational center, with plans to include a water park. A series of test events will verify the pools readiness for the 2008 Olympics.

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