在婀娜多姿的水立方北侧，一座外形设计动感的体育馆已经初现雏形，波浪型的曲线屋面，大面积通透的玻璃幕墙，隐隐体现出中国折扇的文化内涵。虽然不像“鸟巢”那么雄伟壮丽和晶莹剔透，却别有一番风味。

2005年5月开工至今，这个座落于北京奥林匹克公园中心区南部奥运会比赛场馆（体操、蹦床、手球决赛），已经不声不响地完成了东、西立面挑檐工字梁的安装，主题结构及看台板的浇筑和钢屋架的滑移，目前正在进行玻璃幕墙立面的安装和内部装修。走进这座现代化的体育馆，众多人性化、环保的设计成为最大亮点。

The National Indoor Stadium (NIS), the venue¹ where some of the most popular spectator sports of the Summer Olympic Games will take place in 2008, is nearing completion.

Located in the Olympic Green, the NIS will host the artistic² gymnastics, trampoline and handball competitions. Its construction was started in May 2005. The flanges⁴ supporting the east and west facades⁵, the main structure, the stand plates and the glide⁶ of the steel roof trusses have all been completed. Workers are now installing the glass curtain wall facades and fitting up the interior.

To insulate the building from noise and extreme temperatures, Chinese engineers have used an innovative⁷ nine-layer material for the roof of the building and a double-layer glass with pumped in argon for the curtain walls.

In order to save sand and give the stadium a distinctive⁸ "green label", 80,000 tons of slag⁹, a residue¹⁰ from steel-melting, have been used to build the stadium basement.

Another feature of the NIS is its 300-square-meter platform at its "golden spectator area" north of the stand. Reserved for about 120 disabled people, it is accessible through a ramp³ with a gentle slope and six special lifts.

The stadium, which has a land surface of 80,900 square meters and can be used for various kinds of sport competitions and cultural activities, will serve as a multi-functional sporting center after the Olympic Games.|

Vocabulary:

The flanges supporting：安装挑檐工字梁

the stand plates：看台板

the glide of the steel roof trusses：钢屋架移动