(BEIJING, April 18) -- Renovation on the Workers' Stadium, one of the football competition venues for the 2008 Olympic Games, started on Tuesday.

The 80,000-square-meter and 60,000-spectator stadium is undergoing structural consolidation, functional adjustments to some parts, renewal and renovation of some electromechanical devices as well as the water supply and drainage system, plus refurbishment of plastic racetracks.

The program is in line with the requirements of the International Olympic Committee, the International Federation of Football Associations and the Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympiad.

After the completion of the work in the second half of 2007, the floor space of the Workers' Stadium will expand to 81,100 square meters. The Beijing Institute of Architectural Design undertakes the design of the project.

The Workers' Stadium is one of the 11 Beijing-based sport facilities to be renovated and expanded for the purpose of Olympic competitions. There are another 11 venues to be built from scratch, in addition to nine overlays, or temporary venues. All of them will be ready by the end of 2007.