dual-purpose

Beijing’s Bird’s Nest to anchor shopping complex

BEIJING (AP)—The area around Beijing’s massive Bird’s Nest stadium will be turned into a shopping and entertainment complex in three to five years, a state news agency said Friday.

Officially known as Beijing National Stadium, the showpiece of the Beijing Olympics has fallen into disuse since the end of the games. Paint is already peeling in some areas, and the only visitors these days are tourists who pay about $7 to walk on the stadium floor and browse a pricey souvenir shop.

Plans call for the $450 million stadium to anchor a complex of shops and entertainment outlets in three to five years, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing operator Citic Group. The company will continue to develop tourism as a major draw for the Bird’s Nest, while seeking sports and entertainment events.

The only confirmed event at the 91,000-seat stadium this year is Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” set for Aug. 8—the one-year anniversary of the Olympics’ opening ceremony. The stadium has no permanent tenant after Beijing’s top soccer club, Guo’an, backed out of a deal to play there.

Details about the development plans were not available. A person who answered the phone at Citic Group on Friday said offices were closed for the Chinese New Year holiday.

A symbol of China’s rising power and confidence, the stadium, whose nickname described its lattice of exterior steel beams, may never recoup its hefty construction cost, particularly amid a global economic slump. Maintenance of the structure alone costs about $8.8 million annually, making it difficult to turn a profit, Xinhua said.


from Yahoo Sports

MAMMA MIA!

lulan ng cathay pacific flight CX900 from manila to hongkong to toronto ang aking inang nagmamaktol pa habang bumababa sa van nang hinatid namin kanina. hindi ko gustong malayo ulit sa kanya dahil sa mga rasong 'di na kailangang i-validate. ngunit gusto ko rin namang matuloy ang kanyang pag-alis at maranasang makapagtrabahong muli, dahil alam kong "kailangan" nya iyong gawin: 'di lang para sa 'ming pamilya, mas pa sa sarili nyang ikauunlad.

akala ko'y wala nang crylalu blues na magaganap, ngunit sadya sigurong 'di maiiwasan iyon. tinadtad nya ko ng mga bilin at pangaral (na paraan nya ng "paglalambing"), at kahit na walang habas ako sa pagyakap ay pilit nya kong inilalayo sabay-sabing "gumaganyan ka na naman.." ngunit nang makita na ang mga nakalinyang bandila sa harap ng departure area ay sumimple na ang mama ko ng paghikbi sa gedli. maging ang mga luha ko'y nangilid, pero imbes na ipahalata ito'y nag-dyowkstaym na lang kaming magpa-pamilya at nag-almusal sa jabee.

kung meron mang mas sasaya pa sa dalawang buwan na inilagi nya dito ay ang "anticipation" na magkakasama kaming muli, dito man sa 'pinas o dun na sa canada. ngayon pa nga lang ay inaasam-asam na nitong makuha ang kanyang tax refund upang makapag-book ulit ng flight pauwi sa disyembre. tamis.


xs. ginawa kong punda ng aking unan ang pang-itaas na ginamit nya kinagabihan. wala pa 'kong balak labhan iyon.