http://www.linkinn.com/_Beijing_s_Final_Preparations_for_the_2008_Olympics_PICS (oly17.jpg) Chinese workers clean the bubble shaped surface of the iconic Water Cube National Aquatic Center in Beijing, China, Friday, July 18, 2008. One of the highlights of the Beijing Olympic Games will be some of the visibly stunning sporting venues. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (untitled) A view of the Olympic Park, commonly known as the Olympic Green, July 6, 2008 in Beijing, China. Beijing's Olympic Green is the core of the Olympic Games and the site of thirteen venues, including the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center (center). (Guang Niu/Getty Images) (oly9.jpg) The Olympic Green in Beijing is seen in this satellite image collected by DigitalGlobe on May 25, 2008 and released to Reuters July 18, 2008. The National Stadium (center), also known as the Bird's Nest, the National Aquatics Centre (lower center), also known as the Water Cube, and the Olympic Sports Center Stadium (top right) are seen. (REUTERS/DigitalGlobe/Handout) (oly6.jpg) A worker washes his hands in a moat around the National Aquatics Centre also known as the Water Cube, at the Olympic Green in Beijing on 18 July, 2008. With just 21 days to go the finishing touches to Olympic venues continues for the opening ceremony on 8 August in the National Stadium better known as the Bird's Nest. (PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/content_8977131.htm (xin-46208.jpg) (Chinese divers Guo Jingjing (top) and Wu Minxia practice at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, in Beijing, China, Aug. 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Yu) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Cube also known as the Water Cube (???) or abbreviated [H2O]3[1], is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ground was broken on December 24, 2003. The Water Cube was initially designed by PTW Architects (an Australia Architectural company) [2], CSCEC International Design and Arup with structural Engineers Arup conceiving the structure. The structure was built by CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation). Comprising a steel space frame, it is the largest ETFE clad structure in the world with over 100,000 mē of ETFE pillows that are only eight one-thousandths of an inch in total thickness,[3] The ETFE cladding allows more light and heat penetration than traditional glass, resulting in a 30% decrease in energy costs[3]. The outer wall is based on the Weaire-Phelan structure, a foam (structure formed by soap bubbles). The pattern is formed by taking a slice through the foam, and it was chosen in preference to the Kelvin foam because the more complex Weaire-Phelan structure results in more irregular, organic patterns than slices through the regular Kelvin foam. The structure will have a capacity of 17,000[3]during the games that will be reduced to 6,000 afterwards. It also has a total land surface of 65,000 square metres and will cover a total of 7.8 acres (32,000 mē)[3]. Olympics The Watercube lit and ready.The Aquatics Center will host the Swimming, Diving and Synchronized Swimming events during the Olympics. The Water Polo was originally planned to be hosted in the venue but has been moved to the Ying Tung Natatorium. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/29/content_7514788.htm With a capacity of 17,000 seats, the Water Cube will host swimming, diving, synchronized swimming competitions during this summer's Olympics. Its facilities will be tested during the upcoming China Open swimming championships which run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5. T The Water Cube, which adopts an ETFE pneumatic die cushion structure, is the world's largest membrane structure building. It is also the only Olympic venue that is financed by the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots. After the Aug. 8-24 Games, the Water Cube will be refurbished into a multi-function recreation center http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-01/11/content_6386286.htm (000802.jpg) Workers clean an area on the roof of the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, in Beijing January 7, 2008. The venue, built for the Beijing Olympics, will host its first event - the "Good Luck Beijing" Swimming China Open - from January 31 to February 5. [Xinhua]