Watercube National Swimming Centre

The "Water Cube", or National Aquatics Center, is one of the key venues during the Beijing Olympics 2008, playing host to the swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming events, with 42 gold medals up for grabs. The venue has attracted worldwide attention with its unique blue bubble design. The exterior is covered with a membrane made of an advanced material known as ethylene-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, or ETFE. The Water Cube uses more than 100,000 sq m of ETFE, making it the world's largest single structure made of the material. The concept of the design combines the symbolism of the square in Chinese culture and the natural structure of soap bubbles translated into architectural form. The centre will provide public multi-function leisure and fitness facilities before and after the games.