BEIJING, April 1: Beijing is this week opening design competitions for its massive 2008 Olympic venue construction plan, which will include 37 stadiums and gymnasiums and 59 training venues, state press reported Monday.

Design proposals will be accepted from April 2 to April 15 for the Beijing Olympic Green, which will include an 80,000-seat stadium, and the Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center, the China Daily reported.

Applications for the two venues are being handled by the Beijing Municipal Planning Commission, with applications to be followed with draft plans by July 2, the report said.

The Games opening and closing ceremonies, track and field competition and the soccer finals will be held in the Olympic Green stadium, situated on the 1,135 hectare (3,110 acre) site which will also include the athletes’ village, public center and other facilities.

The bidding competition is open to both domestic and international design firms.

Beijing was awarded the right to hold the 2008 Games following an International Olympic Committee vote in Moscow last July. It will be the first ever Olympics hosted by China.—AFP