Beijing has so far received 730 million yuan (about US$94.12 million) in donations for the construction of the National Aquatics Center, a major venue for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Olympic venue is the only one to be funded by donations from compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the overseas Chinese. One billion yuan (about US$128.93 million) was earmarked for the project. The donations have come from over 330,000 people in 87 countries and regions since the program started in July 2003.

The news was revealed at an appropriation ceremony held in Beijing on Wednesday. The Beijing municipal committee collecting the donations said it had received 157 million yuan (about US$20.24 million) since last August.

The Olympic venue, also called the "Water Cube," will host swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming competitions in 2008.