Beijing's Water Cube became a little bit crowded in the morning as Olympic swimmers are eager to get in the pool at a time when the finals are to be held.

With 11 days to go, the blue-toned Water Cube received swimmers from 10 delegations on Monday morning, including Japan's swimming king Kosuke Kitajima.

The Japanese swimmers, who already had a brief training at the Water Cube Sunday night, arrived at the venue first. They started training at eight o'clock and left at 11.

Standing outside the Water Cube, Kitajima told reporters that he felt comfortable in Beijing and the food and facilities at the Olympic Village were quite good.

Belgian swimmer Elise Matthysen was among the early birds. The 16-year-old will compete in women's 100 and 200 meters breaststroke.

"There are many strong swimmers in the events, like Leisel Jones and China's Qi Hui. But we will try our best," her coach surnamed Gwstra said.

Swimmers from Ireland, New Zealand, Libya and Romania also had morning training sessions.

Heeding a request from its biggest TV partner and other broadcasters in the Americas, the International Olympic Committee shifted the swimming finals of the Beijing Olympic Games to the morning so they can be shown live in prime time in North America. Swimming finals were held at night at previous Olympics.

Known officially as the National Aquatics Center, the Water Cube's design and its translucent outside skin make it look like a cube of bubbles or "bubble wrap".

The outside skin of the Water Cube is made of Teflon-like material. Composed of two layers, it's separated by an interior passage that allows the building, which seats 17,000, to breathe like a greenhouse.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)