Beijing on Tuesday started construction on the Wrestling Gymnasium for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Wrestling Gymnasium, located on the campus of the China Agriculture University, is about two kilometers west of the Olympic Green. It is the first among the four competition venues to be built in universities.

The Wrestling Gymnasium, which will have a capacity of 6,000 fixed seats and 2,000 temporary ones, is scheduled to be completed by August 2007.

The Gymnasium can also host badminton, table tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball competitions and will turn into a sports complex for students of the China Agriculture University after the 2008 Games.

According to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), a total of 36 competition venues will be used for the 2008 Olympics, 14 of which will be built from scratch. Construction on 11 has already started and the rest will begin this year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2005)