China’s 91,000-seat Olympic stadium, designed by the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron, was dubbed the “Bird’s Nest” for its elaborate webbing of steel beams. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Artwork grabs the eye in the middle of the stadium: a giant round structure, center stage. The stadium will be the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies and various track and field events. (Ng Han Guan / Associated Press)
Concerned about the possibility of rain showers during the opening ceremonies at the open-air stadium, Chinese officials say they have meteorologists in place who have trained for such a possibility by practicing “rain-mitigation” techniques at special events throughout the year with several successes. (Ng Han Guan / Associated Press)
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Fireworks are set off during opening ceremony rehearsals at the stadium. (Ng Han Guan / Associated Press)
A woman looks through a fence at the Bird’s Nest. Several areas around the stadium have become popular sites for spectators and those seeking photo ops in the run-up to the Games. (Oded Balilty / Associated Press)
A family has a picture taken during the stadium’s construction in March. (Oded Balilty / Associated Press)
Workers put a shine on the stadium’s massive ring of interwoven steel girders. (Alexander F. Yuan / Associated Press)
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The nighttime glow makes the showpiece venue even more photogenic. (Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press)
A Chinese athlete competes in the women’s heptathlon long jump during the China Athletics Open in May. The event was the first track and field competition held at the stadium, a precursor to the Summer Olympics. (Teh Eng Koon AFP/Getty Images)
