One U.S. swim official called the "Watercube" simply "awesome." A high-ranking International Olympic Committee official visiting Beijing's newly opened swimming venue today — the dramatic US$200 million structure with the honeycomb-like facade — called it "out of this world."

Otylia Jedrzejczak, the only gold medalist from the Athens Games competing in the low-key China Open — the inaugural event at the venue — had a slightly different take.

"I think it's too hot in the pool, and too hot in the changing room," the Pole said. "The rest is OK."

Only a few thousand fans turned up at the 17,000-seat venue to watch the first official strokes in the iconic facility. What they saw were a few evening heats, which were to be followed by morning finals on Friday.

That follows the same schedule as the Olympics, which has moved the swim finals to the morning to suit North American TV viewers a half-world away.

The first in the pool for an official race was Mongolia's Tsogjargal Narantsog, who was the only swimmer in his 100-meter butterfly heat. Swimming alone, he finished in 1 minute, 6.79 seconds — that's about 16 seconds off the world record of Ian Crocker — and got loud applause.

"The pool's out of the world," said high-ranking IOC member Kevan Gosper. "You'd think it was sent in from another planet.

"I thing it will be awe-inspiring for the athletes and overwhelming for the new Olympians," Gosper added. "Almost every aspect makes it the finest aquatic center I've seen for an Olympic Games — by far."

Most of the world's top teams — including the Americans and Australians — have skipped the meet.

One of only two officials on hand for USA Swimming was Jonty Skinner, the director of sports science. He came to learn the layout: the route to doping control, the distance to the warm-down pool, and any quirks.

"The pool itself is awesome," Skinner said. "I think the kids are going to come in here and just go wild. When kids goes wild, it just adds to the ambiance of the whole thing. It's the grandeur, the size that's exciting."

Skinner spotted one potential problem. Like the entire building, the high ceiling is made of a membrane-like cell structure — picture the pattern of bubble wrap. The design may make it difficult for backstrokers, who often use the ceiling for orienting themselves down the lanes.

"It's almost like the sky to a backstroker," Skinner said. "They may not know where they are going."

Skinner said the starting blocks were much deeper — about 75 centimeters (30 inches) — than the smaller blocks used in Athens. These offer taller swimmers space to step back.

He said the Americans skipped the meet because of the travel, conflicts with the U.S. college season and the world short-course championships later this year in England.

"The timing wasn't great for us," he said.

This should not bother Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals in Athens and will be trying to match or break Mark Spitz's record of seven golds.

"To that guy, water is water," Skinner said. "Starting blocks, lane lines — he's in another world."

Skinner said the Americans will train in Singapore before arriving in Beijing. Like many teams, they are coming at the last minute to avoid Beijing's noxious air.

Thursday was one of the best days of the year in Beijing — crisp, cold air and few clouds. But Skinner was not impressed.

"Hopefully it gets better because it's still bad," he said. "I can feel it in my throat. We've got plans to deal with it."

He said even indoor sports like swimming could be harmed.

"You still have to leave the venue and operate outside," he said.

There were suggestions earlier in the week at the first unveiling of the building that bright sunlight in the morning streaming through the transparent ceiling could cause problems for television, which prefers consistent lighting.

A superficial crack in the concrete around the diving platform was also pointed out, as were many translucent panels dirtied by the Beijing air.

The water, however, seems near perfect.