Plastics gold at the Beijing Olympics
The new National Swimming Centre hosting the swimming competitions has been designed like a plastic greenhouse to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Nicknamed the "Water Cube" the outer shell of the structure is designed to look like soap bubbles and is made from lightweight ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE).
The transparent ETFE panels capture around 20% of sunlight falling onto it and use the solar energy to heat the pool and interior. This will reduce heating costs by 30% and lighting by 55%.
US firm Lubrizol Advanced Materials has provided the plastics piping that will support the water treatment system at the Water Cube. Lubrizol said its Corzan CPVC piping system and fittings are "highly resistant" to the corrosive chemicals being used in the filtration system, including chlorine and sodium hypochlorite.
And PlasticsEurope also pointed out that many Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls will be using sports gear and equipment using plastics technology.
UK Paralympic contender John McFall, for instance, will be using a carbon fibre blade to run on. The 100 metre and 200 metre sprinter lost his right leg above the knee aged just 19.
Many swimmers at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics are likely to sport the Speedo LZR Racer - a fully bonded suit that covers the body seamlessly. It features welded polyurethane panels that compress and streamline the body reducing skin vibration.
The suit also contains a corset to stablise the swimmer's position in the water and reduce effort and muscle fatigue.
All body suits have also been used in athletics, for example, by sprinters such as Kim Collins and Cathy Freeman. These apply compression at key points for the muscular system and help athletes maintain the right posture.