By Wu Tie

Special to the Tsinghua News Center

The Tsinghua University Sports Center and the nearby Natatorium, both training venues for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, have been preparing since last May to welcome athletes from different countries for the eight-day Good Luck Beijing 2008 Water Polo China Open from March 16 to 23.

(Sports Center)

On Tsinghua’s north campus, the venues, the best of their kind among university facilities, were inaugurated in 2001 and used for diving and basketball competitions during the 21st Universiade. Both venues incorporate the most advanced nano- and information technologies into their design and structure.

(The Natatorium)

Both facilities meet their respective international standards. The Natatorium has a 50m × 20m swimming pool and a 25m × 25m diving pool. The water facilities utilize ozone disinfection techniques instead of traditional chlorine disinfection for water treatment to avoid causing harm or irritation to the athletes. The Natatorium covers a total area of 9,700 square meters with capacity for 1,200 spectators.

The Tsinghua Sports Center, containing three 55m × 35m basketball courts, will serve as a training venue for the upcoming Olympic basketball competition and Paralympic wheelchair basketball competition.

Meanwhile, the Marathon course for the Olympic Games includes a segment of the Tsinghua campus.

(Tsinghua’s Main Road from West to East)

"To host the Olympic Games fulfills the dreams of all Chinese people," said Professor Chen Xu, Tsinghua Vice President. “To have the opportunity to support and work for the Games is a precious experience for everyone in the Tsinghua community.”