Olympic Games

Venues-National Stadium

Two thumbs-up for the Bird's Nest

Last Updated: Thursday, August 13, 2009 | 2:25 PM ET

Bernice Chan CBC Sports

A view of the illuminated National Stadium, dubbed the 'Bird's Nest' during the trial illumination of the project on March 3, 2008 in Beijing, China. (China Photos/Getty Images)

The National Stadium in the north of Beijing definitely is a looker.

From a distance it looks like a giant tangled mess of steel strips in an oval shape, as if a Godzilla-like bird made a home for itself in the Chinese capital. Which explains the nickname, Niao Chao, or Bird’s Nest.

Most think this unique design with its hard metallic exterior is a perfect complement to the National Aquatic Center, or Water Cube, nearby, with its soft, bubbly architecture, like yin and yang, fire and water, black and white. Ah, those Chinese metaphors can go on forever.

But some critics poke fun at the $500 millionUS structure, saying that from a bird’s eye view, it looks more like a lattice-shaped bedpan. Regardless of what people think of it, the National Stadium has become one of several new landmarks Beijing will have for many years to come.

It was supposed to be completed in March, but was delayed a month, apparently because of rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics. Or it might have to do with venue managers admitting there weren’t enough sit-down toilets and having quickly to renovate a brand-new building.

91,000-seat stadium

Nevertheless, the stadium hosted its first event in mid-April, the International Amateur Athletics Federation race-walking event. It was the first time the public got a chance to check out the place where track and field events as well as the final soccer matches will be held in the 91,000-seat stadium.

A worker draws lines on the course in the National Stadium, dubbed the Bird's Nest on April 14, 2008 in Beijing, China. China Photos/Getty Images)Security was tight and people had to pass through metal detectors and staff confiscated things like water bottles and lighters. It’s great to see them take away people’s rights to smoke. I wonder if that regulation can be extended throughout the rest of the city. But water bottles, especially unopened ones?

While people oooh’d and aaah’d over the giant space, first-time visitors complained there wasn’t enough signage to direct tens of thousands of people who were inspecting the venue. The army of student volunteers weren’t much help either; while they were enthusiastic about their jobs, this was also their first time working in the stadium and they didn’t know where everything was.

Despite the teething problems, overall the Bird’s Nest has gotten two thumbs up, but not without some controversy.

Construction deaths

In January the Sunday Times of London reported in interviews with migrant workers, that at least 10 people died while working on the stadium. Beijing Olympic organizers denied the report. But a few days later, the deputy chief of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Work Safety admitted two workers died in 2006 and 2007 at the National Stadium work site, and four more at other Olympic construction sites. He didn’t name the venues.

The concept of the Bird’s Nest came from the Swiss architect firm Herzog & DeMeuron and Chinese artist and designer Ai Weiwei. But afterwards, Ai distanced himself from the project and the Beijing Olympics.

As the Olympic torch relay made its global tour marred by pro-Tibetan protestors, Ai spoke out while in Sydney, criticizing China’s adoration of the Olympic Games and the torch relay.

Although he had a hand in designing one of Beijing’s new landmarks, Ai hasn’t been invited to the opening ceremony and doesn’t care much for the snub either. Nevertheless, he doesn’t regret taking part in the project, saying, “It’s for the people and the city. The stadium is good work.”