A brand new gymnasium in Beijing Normal University will be ready next week exclusively for the U.S. Olympians including basketball super stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The Qiujiduan Gymnasium in the university was completed two weeks ago and will serve as the training headquarters for the USA Team for the Beijing Olympics.
Equipments from the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) headquarters at Colorado Springs have been moved into the gymnasium by USOC staff since Friday and all nine containers of equipments will be ready on Sunday, Kevin Han, manager of the USOC Sports Partnerships, told Xinhua on Saturday.
"It's a fantastic gymnasium, everything is first class," said Han. "Everything will be ready soon."
The gymnasium is a sports complex which also has aquatic facilities and various gyms for combat sports.
The university authorities have reminded students and people living nearby of strict security rules. Wire fences have been built around the gymnasium and reporters and photographers have been banned to get close.
"Tougher measures will be taken tomorrow," said Han.
Located in Northwest Beijing, about 15 minutes from the Olympic Athlete's Village, the university will provide the U.S. team and staff with housing, restaurant facilities and training capability for about 400 athletes in preparation for the Games which run from Aug. 8-24, in China.
"This complex at Beijing Normal University will establish a base for our athletes to prepare in their final stages prior to competition," said Steve Roush, the USOC's Chief of Sport Performance, earlier in an interview.
"It allows the U.S. Olympic athletes to train in conditions that are conducive for high performance and it provides the comforts of home with great facilities, good restaurants and sleeping space for our team before the Games."
The USOC has contracted with the university with two million U.S. dollars for lodging that includes 29 suites in a visiting professor's building and hotel rooms in an eight-floor Apart-Hotel. Two 400-meter tracks are located on the site, one with a grass infield.
Source: Xinhua
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