Olympic Games

Venues-BMX

Beijing's BMX tracks world class

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 | 3:05 PM ET

Bernice Chan CBC Sports

Women riders compete in the semifinals of the UCI Bicycle Motocross (BMX) Supercross World Cup (Beijing Round) at the Olympic BMX course on August 21, 2007 in Beijing China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

As a sign of economic progress, there are fewer bicycles on Beijing’s streets than before. Those who cannot afford four wheels are not considered of a certain economic stature, whereas in Canada it would be looked on more as an eco-conscious rider or someone who wants to keep fit.

But another set of wheels is preparing to roar into the capital.

Bicycle Moto Cross or BMX will make its debut at the Olympics this year. And the sport will also be held at the Laoshan BMX venue built especially for the event.

Adjacent to the Laoshan Velodrome and Laoshan Mountain Bike Course in west Beijing, the BMX venue will show locals some cool tricks they can do on a bike.

Apparently no two BMX tracks are the same. Olympics organizers explain that the sport is constantly evolving, with each new track at a greater level of difficulty than the last one.

The Laoshan BMX venue starts off with a giant steep slope constructed with a steel frame and then the track has a series of jumps, flattops and other obstacles snaking around the arena, which seats some 4,000 spectators.

Last August, the venue held the “Good Luck Beijing” 2007 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup. British rider Shanaze Reade, who won the women’s event, praised the venue, saying, “It’s a great track and it’s a whole new experience for me to compete here. I really enjoy it.”

International Cycling Union technical officials Mats Notlind and Johan Lindstram also applauded the Laoshan track. “This is the best track we’ve ever seen. If it’s not the best in the world, it’s one of the best.”