London Heathrow airport unveils Olympic terminal
The terminal has been built solely for "Games Family" departures, and will be used for the three days after the closing ceremony on 12 August.
Construction of the terminal - which is roughly the size of three Olympic swimming pools - began in February in an area currently used for staff car parking on the south side of the airport, Xinhua reports.
The unveiling is a construction milestone, meaning the building is now weather-proof.
No flights will leave from the terminal, so athletes will be bussed to departure lounges.
With 31 check-in desks and seven security lanes, athletes will take just 30 minutes to pass through the facility, according to BAA director for London 2012 Andy Garner.
Many will also be able to check in their luggage at the Olympic Village, ahead of arriving at the airport.
Heathrow says 27 June to 1 October will be its critical period - allowing time either side of the start of the Olympics and the end of the later Paralympic Games.
On its busiest expected days - 26 July and 13 August - it predicted passenger levels would increase from an estimated 95,000 on a usual day by 45% to 138,000.
Heathrow is expecting a 35% increase in baggage on 26 July and 13 August, with around 15% of the 200,000 items expected on those days likely to be oversized luggage such as sporting equipment.
To ease pressure on Heathrow, charter flights and private jets will use other airports such as Stansted.
To learn more see English.news.cn
