Major venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics are expected to be open to the public next year after the transformation projects are completed.

Officials in charge say museums and public fitness clubs will reside in the National Stadium or Bird's Nest.

The stadium will be an ideal venue for commercial performances and activities to do with public welfare.
Li Aiqing, chairman of the Beijing State-owned Assets Management Ltd, elaborates.

"Like the operas of Turandot and Aida, many famous singers' concerts will be staged at the Bird's Nest. I can tell you that some performing troupes have signed contracts with us to make use of the sports venue."

Li Aiqing adds that workers will also remove 11,000 seats in the National Aquatics Center or the "Water Cube" to make room for catering services and public entertainment.