CRI听力：Olympic Stadiums to be a Legacy

Anchor: Constuction on Beijing's 2008 Olympic sports venues is finally approaching the end. Now Beijing officials say they've already got plans to make full use of the venues after the big event. CRI reporter Wang Jing has more.

Reporter: Beijing has built and renovated over thirty athletic stadiums for the upcoming Olympic Games.

The China National Stadium, or better known as "the nest," is designed to accommodate 100,000 people. The luxury swimming venue known as the "water cube" sits right next door.

And after billions of dollars of investment, Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Jingmin says the large sports venues will not sit idle after August.

"The water cube has 17,000 seats, but it is not necessary to keep them all after the Olympic Games. We are going to cut the seats to 6,000. The space saved will be changed into an entertainment and sports club, and there will be a water amusement park, as well."

Liu Jingmin released the plan at a press conference at the annual session of China's top legislature and advisory body. Liu is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (www.hXen.com)

He says the stadium legacy was studied long before construction began.

"For instance, when companies were bidding for these projects, there was a requirement that the company have a professional team dealing with the operation after the event, and whether they have a draft for it. A panel of experts studied the drafts and made sure they were practical before giving the nod."

Six of the athletic venues for the Olympics are set inside Beijing universities. They will be turned into student gymnasiums immediately after the Games.

Quan Liangzhu is from the University of Science and Technology, which houses the stadium for judo and taekwondo.

"The warm-up area is designed to become a standardized swimming pool. During the Games, we'll cover it with a wood floor, and after removing it, there is the swimming pool! "

Liu Jingmin says these stadiums will be accessible to average people, since the agreement with the stadium owners clearly states that the ticket prices must be kept affordable.