BOCOG Official: Bird's Nest will hold first event in April

　　(BEIJING, March 19) -- The National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, much anticipated for its unique steel structure, will hold first event in April, Yao Hui, vice-director of BOCOG's Venue Management Department, said on Wednesday at a BOCOG media reception day for domestic and overseas journalists.

　　"The Bird's Nest will hold first event in April for the first time and host the Good Luck Beijing 2008 IAAF Race Walking Challenge, the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Marathon and the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Athletics China Open," he said.

　　As chief of the Venue Management Department, which is responsible for venue operations and competition coordination, he noted that the main framework for a venue operations team has been established, including 24 venue teams, 22 independent training venue teams, 13 non-competitive venue teams, one football event team and six operations teams responsible for venues outside Beijing.

　　"As much as 95 percent of the problems that arise during the Games will be solved by the teams."

　　The Venue Management Department has also stepped up its effort to set up a main Games-time operations center. The center would link all of the venues, training venues, non-competitive teams, and it aims to facilitate information management, daily coordination and policy-making, he said.

　　Yao told reporters: "Thirty-five Good Luck Beijing pre-Games competitions have been held so far, with a total of 46 events held from August 2006 to June 2008. A total of 8,218 athletes and officials, 1,783 officials from NOCs and technical officials, 20,592 reporters, AND more than 500,000 visitors have taken part in these competitions."

　　The IOC, other NOCs and overseas media have spoken highly of the Good Luck Beijing sport events, saying the events are of high quality and very successful. IOC President Jacques Rogge said: "The IOC has been very satisfied with the organizing of the Good Luck Beijing events."

　　"With the Olympics only 142 days away, the Gook Luck Beijing Water Polo international invitational tournament is in full swing. PreparationS for the last 10 Good Luck Beijing sport events are under way," Yao said.

　　Water polo, football, shooting, athletics, swimming, synchronized swimming, fencing, race walking, marathon, basketball and volleyball competitions will be held from April to June.