Beijing Olympic table tennis venue catches fire, no injuries

A nearly completed gymnasium in Beijing that will host table tennis matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympics caught fire Monday morning, but damage was not significant and there were no casualties, witnesses and authorities said.

The fire at the 26,900-square-meter stadium in northwestern Beijing broke out at around 7:30 a.m. and was put out about four hours later, witnesses said.

Construction on the gymnasium began in September 2005 and was due for completion in August. The roof and a part of the wall of the gymnasium were blackened as a result of the fire.

A spokesman for the Beijing municipal government's fire fighting department said the fire began during construction work for waterproofing the gymnasium's floor.

The witnesses said flames had been seen in the morning, drawing crowds near the gymnasium.