Renovation strengthens structure of Workers' Stadium

A general view of Workers' Stadium

(BEIJING, February 28) -- The Workers Stadium's concrete structure is not up to par with Olympic standards. As such, reinforcing the building, especially the pillars, is top priority. Because the stadium has been around for almost 50 years, this project is highly complex. The degree of the transformation is immense, needing advanced technology to complete. Carbon fiber reinforcement technology was introduced to reinforce the existing structure, enabling the stadium to withstand seismic trembles. The renovation fully embodies the idea of a "High-tech Olympics."

At the finish of its initial construction, in 1959, it was established as the "National Stadium," and was one of the main buildings in Beijing. The Stadium's reputation spread far and wide, as it was host to a number of international competitions, as well as opening and closing ceremonies for several major sports events. In the past half century, the Workers Stadium has witnessed first-hand the growth of China's sports industry

The Workers Stadium covers a land area of 350,000 square meters. The entire oval-shaped stadium extends 282 meters from north to south and 208 meters from east to west, incorporating 24 sets of audience stands. Since April 18, 2006, the Workers Stadium has undergone comprehensive transformation projects in order to get it ready for the Olympics in 2008. Now, the expanded stadium can accommodate 62,000 people and meets the technical standards for hosting football competitions.