Effect model of Beijing Olympics Stadium, nicknamed the "bird's nest".[sina.com]

National Aquatics Center, front, is located nearby Beijing Olympics Stadium.[sina.com]

Beijing Olympic venues are likely to be open to visitors later this year said Beijing Tourism Administration director Du Jiang, according to chinabroadcast.cn Thursday.

Olympic competition venues slated to be open to the public include the Beijing Olympics Stadium, nicknamed the "bird's nest" by locals, and the National Aquatics Center, Du said at the opening ceremony of Beijing International Tourism Exposition.

The special sightseeing program is dependent on visitor's safety and lack of interference with ongoing construction work, Du added.

"Beijing doesn't plan to make any profits on opening the venues," Du said. "The city is expecting visitors, either home or abroad, to know more about her preparation work, and to boost people's confidence in the Beijing 2008 Olympics."

According to Du, the main venues will be first open to overseas visitors.

Construction work on the project kicked off in December 2003 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2007.