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Shunyi gears up for first Olympic test event

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-26 09:02

The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park has been completed and the surrounding areas have been upgraded to welcome the first Beijing Olympics test event in Beijing, organizers said on Wednesday.

The future aqua park passed the final acceptance of construction on July 18 to become the first completed one among the venues that are newly built, said Li Yousheng, the executive president of the Olympic rowing-canoeing event organizing committee in Shunyi.

"We have finished construction of the venue. On Aug. 7, we will have first test event of the Beijing Olympics in this park," he said.

The park, located to the east of Chaobai river, has a planned area of about 162.59 hectares and is the competition venue for Beijing Olympic rowing, canoe/kayak and marathon swimming as well as Paralympic rowing events.

This year, the park in northeast Beijing will see three test events, namely World Rowing Junior Championships, Aug. 7-11, Good Luck Beijing 2007 Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open, Aug. 16-19, and Good Luck Beijing 2007 Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open, Aug. 23-26.

Li said there had already been 1,100 athletes and officials from over 50 countries and regions registered for the rowing junior world championships.

"That means the scale of the event is very big, even bigger than the Olympic rowing event, as there are about 600 athletes and officials expected for the Olympic rowing," he said.

"We will be responsible for their accommodation and offer free lodging for 50 athletes from 12 countries and regions as they lack financial support," he said.

The Shunyi district also gave the surrounding area of the venue a fresh look by upgrading roads.

Baima road, linking downtown area and Shunyi Olympic Park, has opened to traffic on June 30. It will take 39 minutes' drive from the Olympic village to the park.

Right and left bank feeder roads of Binhe road have been renovated and expanded. The renovation and expansion of the left and right bank roads along Chaobai River, Xinfan road and Shunan road are underway.