Organizers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics said Sunday they have completed construction of the main structure of their futuristic stadium nearly two years before the start of the Games.

Construction of the main structures for two indoor stadiums, a swimming centre and a shooting range also are finished, said Wang Gang, deputy director of the 2008 Construction Office.

The Games are a multibillion-dollar prestige project for the communist government, which is eager to show off the rapid pace of its preparations after criticism of construction delays before the 2004 Athens Games.

On Sunday, workers removed supports that surrounded the 91,000-seat stadium during construction. The 69-metre high lattice of girders, designed by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron, has been dubbed the Bird's Nest by the Chinese press.

``I feel a sense of relief every time we move forward a little bit, and today I got the biggest relief because of the outstanding significance of today's work,'' said Zhang Hengli, deputy general manager of the National Stadium Co.

``We had very limited experience on this kind of projects, and the success of today really give us a great relief.''

The main structure for the Olympic Village also is due to completed this year, according to Wang.

Preparations have moved so fast that the International Olympic Committee recommended last year that Beijing slow down preparations for fear facilities would be ready too early and run up extra operating expenses.