The Beijing Olympics' iconic National Aquatics Centre, designed by Sydney company PTW Architects and engineering company Arup, has been handed over to Chinese authorities and put to its first real test.

The Water Cube designed by Sydney company PTW Architects.

Come August, the energy efficient and ecologically friendly designed aquatic centre will hold 17,000 people and play host to 42 Olympic gold medals in swimming, diving and synchronised swimming.

NSW Minister for State Development Ian Macdonald congratulated PTW Architects and Arup for creating the ground-breaking sports venue in collaboration with leading Chinese design institutes.

"Much like the Sydney Opera House, the Water Cube is an architectural design and engineering marvel designed in Australia and destined to become an icon of its time," Mr Macdonald said.

"It is expected to provide China with a striking legacy of the Beijing Games for the next 100 years."

The Water Cube's innovative membrane structure is covered by more than 3,000 air cushions constructed from ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) and covering 110,000 square metres.

PTW Architects, in collaboration with Beijing Urban Engineering Architecture Design and Research Company, has also designed the $400 million Beijing Olympic Green Village which uses low energy materials, solar technology, water conservation and passive ventilation in its design.

The NSW Government's Sydney-Beijing Olympic Secretariat, contained within the Department of State and Regional Development, has helped promote the expertise of NSW companies to Beijing Olympic authorities, including PTW.

"NSW efforts in Beijing have set the bar on international sporting infrastructure at new heights and provided a positive endorsement of the capacity for NSW innovation," Mr Macdonald said.