Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park

The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park (顺义奥林匹克水上公园) [ Official 2008 Olympics site, [http://en.beijing2008.cn/venues/src/index.shtml Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park] ] is the new, purpose-built venue for the Rowing, Canoeing, and Kayaking and 10 kilometre marathon swimming events in the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is located in Mapo Village in the Shunyi District in Beijing.

The first competitions at the venue were held in August 2007, a year ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games for which it was built. The World Junior Rowing Championships, China Open Canoe/Kayak Slalom and China Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open were all held in that month as part of the "Good Luck Beijing" series of sporting events [ [http://www.bjshyagw.gov.cn/english/xinwen/20070202saichengbiao.asp "Good Luck Beijing" pre-Olympic sporting events calendar (Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park)] ] . The 10km Marathon Swimming Olympic 2nd qualification event was held there in June 2008

The slalom course is generally considered to be very tough, even by Olympic standards. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/02/2322299.htm?site=olympics/2008 ABC News: Canoeists and kayakers looking to avoid the hits] ] [ [http://campbellwalsh.com/blog.php Blog of Campbell Walsh (Olympic K1 slalom contestant)] ]

Venue Details

*Area covered: 318 500 Square Metres
*Fixed Seating: 1 200
*Temporary Seating: 25 800 (including 10000 standing)
*Construction commenced: First half of year 2005
*Construction completed: 28 July 2007 [ [http://www.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/venues/src/n214073220.shtml 顺义奥林匹克水上公园 - 北京2008年第29届奥运会官方网站 ] ]

References