Covering an area of 11.82 hectares, the 38-year old stadium is a comprehensive and multi-functional facility. As a major sport and cultural building in the country's capital, it has undertaken many national and international sport events and large-scale art performances. However, an urgent facelift is necessary to meet competition and training needs of 2008 Olympic Games.

The goal of the project is to add 1,600 square meters to the current floor space of 53,000 square meters. To meet International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international sports federations (IFs) functional requirements, renovation will touch on competition and training fields and Games-time auxiliary rooms in addition to building a new ticket hall and goods deposit desks as well as beautifying the surroundings.

Expected to be completed in late 2007, the stadium will be used for Olympic volleyball competitions and large-scale functions after the Games.

A total of 31 competition venues will be used for 26 sports in Beijing during the 16-day Olympiad (8-24 August 2008). Of these 11 are new venues, 11 are existing sites to be renovated or expanded and nine are temporary ones.