The majority of Olympic projects were designed by Chinese architects, said Ding Jianming, the Beijing 2008 Project Construction Headquarters Office deputy chief engineer on Sunday.

Addressing the question of whether "Olympic projects in Beijing have become the testing ground for foreign designers" at a press conference, Ding said although many foreigners had entered plans for the bidding of Games' projects, only a few were used.

"For example, the 'Bird's Nest,' or the National Stadium, used the foreign designers' ideas. But the 'Water Cube,' or the National Aquatics Center, beside it used Chinese designer's idea of being square."

Ding said apart from the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, the other 12 new Olympic venues were also designed by domestic firms or designers. Among them, Wukesong Basketball Gymnasium was designed by Beijing Institute of Architectual Design, and Beijing Shooting Range Hall was designed by the Architectual Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University.

He said the design and construction of those venues have tempered and cultivated domestic designers and constructors. They had completed some influential projects prior to coming to work in Beijing.

Ding added he believed Chinese designers would also be able to go global and design famous structures in other parts of the world.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)