Beijing saw two 2008 Olympic venues crack ground yesterday: the 2008 Beijing Olympic Laoshan Velodrome and the Olympic Shooting range in Shijingshan District in western Beijing.

"The foundation ceremony of these two venues represents the blueprint of 'New Beijing, Great Olympics' being implemented," said Li Zhijian, vice-president of Beijing Organization Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympia.

"The construction of the venues is not only material for a successful Olympic Games but should leave precious cultural treasures to China and the whole world," Li added.

The two venues are expected to be finished in the first half of 2006.

Designed respectively by the Guangdong Architectural Design and Research Institute and the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University, the outside design of the velodrome and the shooting range reflect cycling and shooting features.

Located at the east of the Western Fifth Ring Road, the 32,500-square-metre Laoshan Velodrome will be able to seat 6,000 spectators and looks like a cyclist's helmet.

To the west of the Western Fifth Ring Road, the shooting range covers an area of 48,000 square metres and will have more than 8,500 seats. The design concept came from hunting, with a shape like a primitive bow and arrow, officials said.

The two designs were chosen from 11 finalists.

The two sites are owned and managed by the State General Administration of Sports and will become the training bases for national teams.

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