Olympics speed skating venue unveiled in Beijing

The new design for the speed skating venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing has been unveiled on April 25.  [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The "National Speed Skating Oval" will be built at the Olympic Park in northern Beijing.  [Photo: Chinanews.com]

It's going to be 220 meters long, 160 meters wide and cover roughly 17 hectares in overall area. Its concept includes the installation of 22 separate light strands running around its exterior.  [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The facility, once complete, will be able to hold around 12,000 people, and is expected to be one of the iconic structures used to draw tourists to the Olympic Park, which is already home to the "Birds Nest" National Stadium, as well as the "Water Cube" swimming center.  [Photo: Chinanews.com]