Contributor Lisa Costantini is just back from Beijing, where she was able to sneak inside some of the Olympic venues and snap some pix. Have a good weekend!
images by Lisa Costantini

With 455 days to go until the summer Olympics in Beijing, the National Stadium — where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place — still has a ways to go. We’ll give you one guess as to why the venue was dubbed the Birds Nest.

An early look inside the skeleton shows the progress that is still to come before it can hold 91,000 spectators. The function of the building is to bring spectators closer to the action and will be used after the Games for large-scale sports competitions, conventions, as well as business and cultural activities.

These aren’t your average LEGOs. A model of all the venues around the Olympic Green, from the National Stadium and the athletes village to the unique swimming ”cube” (shown next to the Birds Nest). As of April 29, more than 488,000 residents of China have registered to volunteer at next year’s Summer Games.

The hutongs (meaning narrow alleyways) are home to a quarter of Beijing’s residents. However they are steadily being demolished and replaced with modern buildings and high-rises…and at a quicker rate now with the Olympics looming.

One of the many obstacles Beijing will have to overcome (pollution and antiquated bathrooms withstanding) is the language barrier. The english translation on this sign almost needs translating!

Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean in Whistler, they’re already gearing up for 2010. (And just like that, your hopes of acting out a photo finish race are cut short. Isn’t that always the way it is?)