The National Stadium, also named the Bird's Nest, was the main stadium of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Occupying an area of 204,000 square meters, it has a capacity of 91,000 seats, including 80,000 fixed seats and 11,000 temporary seats. The stadium was designed by Swiss and Chinese architects and was inspired by Chinese ceramics. As one of the largest steel structures in the world, its exterior is pure steel. The stadium resembles a bird's nest or a cradle, the place to nurture a new life. It symbolizes people's hope for the future. After the Beijing Olympic Games, it has become a public place for sports and recreation.