Olympic Green

Action in the Games' 28 sports will stretch from this 2,800-acre complex, five miles north of Tiananmen Square, to the equestrian venue in Hong Kong, more than 1,200 miles to the south

BIRD'S NEST

WATER CUBE

National AquaticsCenter

Swimming, diving,synchronized swimming

The so-calledWater Cube is deceptively sturdy: Ultrathin plastic stretches over a steelframework to form 3,000 translucent air bubbles that can each withstand twotons of weight. Inside, state-of-the-art ventilation and insulation systemswill keep swimmers and the 17,000 spectators comfortable.

OlympicVillage

Apartments forthe 16,000 athletes and officials will be partly solar powered.

National IndoorStadium

Gymnastics,trampoline and tumbling, team handball

Olympic SportsCenter Gymnasium

Team handball

Olympic SportsCenter Stadium

Modern pentathlon(running and equestrian)

Press andBroadcast Centers

The 21,600accredited journalists will have an Olympic-record 1.6 million square feet ofworkspace.

NationalStadium

Track, men'ssoccer final, ceremonies

The interwovengirders aren't the only design innovation at the Bird's Nest. Beneath theweather- and sound-proof outer membranes, 80,000 seats are set in wavelike,partially-staggered rows to improve sight lines and ventilation; a rainwaterrecycling system will irrigate the 861,000 square feet of greenery around thestadium.

YingdongNatatorium

Water polo,modern pentathlon (swimming)

In and Around Beijing

Summer Palace
Imperial family's garden-filled retreat

Forbidden City
Imperial palace during dynastic era (1420--1911)

OLYMPIC GREEN (photo, left)

1. National Stadium
2. National Aquatics Center
3. National Indoor Stadium
4. National Convention Center (main press center; modern pentathlon; fencingand shooting events)
5. Field Hockey Stadium
6. Archery Field
7. Tennis Court

OLYMPIC SPORTS CENTER (OSC) (foreground of photo,left)

8. OSC Stadium
9. OSC Gymnasium
10. Yingdong Natatorium

OTHER VENUES

11. Beijing Workers' Gymnasium (boxing)
12. Beijing Workers' Stadium (soccer)
13. Capital Indoor Stadium (volleyball)
14. Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium (volleyball)
15. Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field
16. Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium
17. Beijing Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field
18. Peking University Gymnasium (table tennis)
19. Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium(weightlifting)
20. Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium (judo, taekwondo)
21. China Agricultural University Gymnasium (wrestling)
22. Chaoyang Park (beach volleyball)
23. Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium (badminton, rhythmicgymnastics)
24. Laoshan Cycling Venues (track cycling; BMX and mountain bike courses)
25. Beijing Shooting Range
26. Ming Tomb Reservoir (triathlon)
27. Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park (rowing, canoeing, kayaking, open-waterswimming)

BOLD: new, permanent venues •-----cycling road racecourse

TWO PHOTOS

Photograph by Gerfly/SI China

MAP

Map by INTERNATIONAL MAPPING ASSOCIATES

MAP

PHOTO

CSPA/US PRESSWIRE (BIRD'S NEST, AQUATIC CENTER)

PHOTO

CSPA/DPP/ICON SMI (WATER CUBE)

PHOTO

TEH ENG KOON/AFT/GETTY IMAGES (SHOT-PUTTER)

PHOTO

DANNY LEHMAN/CORBIS (SUMMER PALACE)

PHOTO

CLARO CORTES IV/REUTERS (FORBIDDEN CITY)