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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 28 Jul 2008 Title: Beijing Water Cube busy receiving swimmers Beijing - Beijing's Water Cube became a bit crowded in the morning as Olympic swimmers are eager to start training ahead of the finals. With 11 days to go, the blue-toned Water Cube received swimmers from 10 delegations on Monday morning, including Japan's swimming king Kosuke Kitajima. The Japanese swimmers, who already had a brief training at the Water Cube Sunday night, arrived at the venue first. They started training at 8am and left at 1am. Standing outside the Water Cube, Mr Kitajima told reporters that he felt comfortable in Beijing and the food and facilities at the Olympic Village were quite good. Belgian swimmer Elise Matthysen was among the early birds. The 16-year-old will compete in the women's 100 and 200 meters breaststroke. Swimmers from Ireland, New Zealand, Libya and Romania also had morning training sessions. Heeding a request from its biggest television partner and other broadcasters in the America, the International Olympic Committee shifted the swimming finals of the Beijing Olympic Games to the morning so they can be shown live in prime time in North America. Swimming finals were held at night at previous Olympics. Known officially as the National Aquatics Center, the Water Cube's design and its translucent outside skin make it look like a cube of bubbles or "bubble wrap". The outside skin of the Water Cube is made of Teflon-like material. Composed of two layers, it's separated by an interior passage that allows the building, which seats 17 000, to breathe like a greenhouse. BuaNews-Xinhua |
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