After years of construction, the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, opened by hosting its first Olympic test event. This also meant workers finished all 37 Olympic venues on time.

the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest,  opened by hosting its first Olympic test event.(CCTV.com)

This is the Olympic Green, the centerpiece of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The leading actor and actress in the compound are of course, the "Bird's Nest", and the "Water Cube", a combination of strength and elegance.

42,000 tons of twisted steel beams wrap around the exterior silver twigs binding a nest together.

Its neighbor, the "water cube" plays on the geometry of water bubbles in an irregular polygon form.

Race walkers put the Bird's Nest to its very first test.

The Swimming China Open gave swimmers a chance to test the water cube. Similar accolades came from the swimmers.

The Swimming China Open gave swimmers a chance to  test the water cube.(CCTV.com)

Xin Tong said, "Everything here is very good and the venue is very hi-tech. I felt pretty good swimming in the pool."

Divers also tested the venue's diving pool. China's dream team again dominated the event and Chinese divers will head almost every category as prohibitive favorites.