Beijing to Spend 3.4 Billion US Dollars on Olympic Facilities

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 29, 2002

Beijing to Spend 3.4 Billion US Dollars on Olympic Facilities

Beijing plans to spend 3.4 billion US dollars on sport venues and other related facilities for the 2008 summer Olympic Games. The fund would come mainly from a marketing program and the governmental backing. Some principles to be followed in the construction include taking into account the post-Games usage and cutting unnecessary costs to avoid extravagance.

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3.4 billion US dollars to be spent on construction

Beijing plans to spend 3.4 billion US dollars on sport venues and other related facilities for the 2008 summer Olympic Games, a senior official of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG), said Thursday in Beijing.

As planned, Beijing will build or renovate 37 stadiums and gymnasiums for the 2008 Games, including 32 in Beijing and five in other cities.

"Of the 32 venues in Beijing, the 19 to be built are to cost about 1.44 billion US dollars," Liu Jingmin, BOCOG's executive vice-president, said at a press conference here.

"Other related facilities including the Olympic Village, Main Press Center and International Broadcasting Center and some repairing work on existing venues will cost some 1.94 billion dollars.

"In total, we need some 3.4 billion US dollars," Liu said, adding that the fund would come mainly from a marketing program and the governmental backing.

Post-Games usage considered

Beijing has planned an Olympic Green, the centerpiece of the Olympic Games, which is home to 13 stadiums and gymnasiums, including the 80,000-seat National Stadium, the 18,000-seat National Gymnasium and the 17,000-seat National Swimming Center.

BOCOG stressed that to prevent such venues becoming "white elephant" after the Games are over, the organizers will take into account the post-Games usage while planning and constructing the facilities.

"For example, the National Gymnasium will be used to be the national circus center or hold concerts, and the National Swimming Center will be used partly as a aquatic entertainment park for local residents," Liu said.

Avoiding unnecessary costs

In addition, MPC, IBC and some other sports venues will be switched after the Games to conference, exhibition and cultural facilities, such as Capital Youth Palace and the City Planning Exhibition Center.

The other principles to be followed in the venues construction include cutting unnecessary costs to avoid extravagance and waste and equipping the venues with high-tech gears so that some first-class sports venues will be available as a legacy to the residents.

Due considerations for the needs of the disabled in both watching the Games and participating in the following Paralympic Games, have also been made.

China Embraces 2008 Olympics

Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) has expressed its wishes that they will closely work together with the Olympic family and build on experiences of the previous host cities to ensure a successful games in 2008.

Beijing plans to spend 3.4 billion US dollars on sport venues and other related facilities for the 2008 summer Olympic Games.

Keeping to its commitment to staging a best ever Olympics, Beijing organisers has come up with a comprehensive and systematic plan to guide the preparation work for the 2008 Games.

Features: China Embraces 2008 Olympics

Officail Website: New Beijing Great Olympics

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