Beijing Shooting Range Hall

Beijing Shooting Range Hall, likely to be the venue of the first gold medal awarded at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is a magnificent shooting hall located in Shijingshan District of Beijing.

Events
Qualifying rounds and finals of ten shooting events at the 2008 Summer Olympics would be held at Beijing Shooting Range Hall. Shooting events held here would consist of all 10, 25 and 50 metre events. All shooting sports events for the 2008 Summer Paralympics will also be held at Beijing Shooting Range Hall.

Seating Capacity
Beijing Shooting Range Hall as of today could accommodate 8,600 spectators. Of these, 2,170 seats are permanent while 6,430 seats are removable. The qualification competition shooting range halls can seat 6,100 and the final competition hall can seat 2,500.

Venue Background
Construction work on the venue started in 2004 and culminated in 2007. The shooting hall was used for a pre-Olympic test event in April 2008 as part of the 2008 ISSF World Cup. The venue comprises qualification competition halls, a final competition hall, a storehouse, a room for armed police use, a heating and ventilation equipment room, and an electric transformer room. The shooting hall has total surface area of 45,645 square meters.

Competition Halls
The final shooting range competition hall contains sealed 10m, 25m, and 50m target ranges. The qualification competition hall has10m, 25m, and 50 m target ranges.

Design
Design of Beijing Shooting Range Hall resembles a hunting bow. The design is based on the origins of the sport of shooting - hunting in the forest. The qualification competition halls and the final competition hall are linked by the venue's main entrance, which is a factor in shaping the venue as a bow.

Post Olympics
When the Olympics are over, important international and Chinese shooting competitions would be held in the shooting hall. It would serve as the training base for the Chinese national shooting team and talented youth. A section or few could be utilized as a national defense teaching facility. Thus, even after the Olympics, the venue would maintain its utility.