Beijing Thursday started construction on the Olympic Forest Park and a badminton gymnasium, two facilities of the 2008 Olympic Games.

The gymnasium, located on the campus of the Beijing University of Technology in the southeast of the city, is within one hour drive from the Olympic Green. It will host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics competitions during the 2008 Games.

The gymnasium, which will have a capacity of 7,500 seats, is scheduled to be completed by August 2007.

Divided by the North Fifth Ring Road, the Forest Park consists of north and south areas, covering a total area of 6,800,000 square meters.

The southern part will include temporary venues and the International Area of the Olympic Village, while the north part is natural ecological landscape.

The Olympic Forest Park will turn into a center for cultural, sports and leisure activities for local residents after the 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.