China unveils Olympic “Water Cube”

Jan 31, 2008 10:27 AM by Caroline Goddard

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The Olympics'
Wild Water Cube

China unveiled a new aquatic wonder in Beijing: The Water Cube. The venue, covered by a tough plastic made to look like bubbling water, will be used for swimming events during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

"I am very moved and very proud," said Li Aiqing, president of Beijing's state-owned Asset Management Company -- which owns the Water Cube -- at an inauguration ceremony. "This was a very ambitious project in terms of the construction technology, and a most difficult construction challenge."

A peek inside the Water Cube

You have to admit: from both inside and out, the Water Cube swimming event building looks amazing:

Beijing Olympics - Water cube swimming venue, exterior

Beijing Olympics - Water cube swimming venue, inside

The Olympic water cube structure is environmentally friendly, to boot -- the translucent shell lets in natural sunlight, providing heat and lighting and cutting energy costs by 30 percent.