A modest opening ceremony was held yesterday for the opening of the new Birds Nest Stadium. The stadium is fast becoming an icon for Beijing and the 2008 Olympics. The stadium is famous for its lattice type exterior giving its nickname the ‘Birds Nest’.

The first event for the stadium will be held tomorrow. It will also be low key with no big fan fare.

Here is one reporter’s impression of the inside of the stadium:

“The contrast between the outside and inside are striking.

From the outside, the size of the stadium overwhelms everything else, even the neighbouring Water Cube swimming venue.”

I had a similar feeling about the new swimming center yesterday. The outside likes fantastic and unlike any other building I have seen, but the inside looks like a fairly typical sports venue.

Read more: The Bird’s Nest, icon of the Beijing Olympics, hosts a modest opening