Water Cube' hosts first test event

Water Cube' hosts first test event

A volunteer dressed as a Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mascot stands outside the National Aquatics Centre, nicknamed the "Water Cube", during the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open in Beijing January 31, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.

Competitors dive during the women's 4x 200M freestyle relay finals during the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open at the National Aquatics Centre, nicknamed 'Water Cube', in Beijing February 1, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.

Athletes compete in the men's 200m freestyle heats during the "Good Luck Beijing" Swimming China Open at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, in Beijing January 31, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.

A South Korean athlete competes in the men's 200m freestyle heats during the "Good Luck Beijing" Swimming China Open at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, in Beijing January 31,2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.

Officials watch as swimmers compete in the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing January 31, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.

A volunteer talks to his co-worker, dressed as a Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mascot, during the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open at the National Aquatics Centre, nicknamed the "Water Cube", in Beijing January 31, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.


Children play with an Olympic mascot outside the National Aquatics Centre during the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open, in Beijing February 1, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.

People walk outside the National Aquatics Centre, nicknamed the "Water Cube", during the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open in Beijing January 31, 2008. The Olympic venue for swimming, diving and synchronised swimming at the Beijing Games opened with a test event on Thursday allowing the Chinese capital's residents to ponder the ethereal cuboid structure at close range for the first time.