The City of Beijing is planning to invest more than $23 billion in preparation for the Olympic Games in 2008. Much of this money will be spent on construction projects in the following areas: Olympics facilities, transportation, telecommunications, and environmental improvements. Some of the projects are continuations of city improvements that have been planned for years. Others are entirely new projects that will now come to fruition since Beijing has been officially selected to hold the Olympics. Coupled with the Beijing municipal government promise that bidding on these projects will be open on an equal basis to both foreign and domestic companies, the 2008 Games could be a very enticing business opportunity.
The U.S. Commercial Service is available to work with American companies who seek to capitalize on these opportunities. As a start, this website serves as an introduction to the 2008 Olympics and relevant projects. Click here if you are an American-based firm interested in receiving our Olympics Hot Sheet, an ad hoc e-newsletter containing Beijing Olympic project updates.
• The Beijing Olympic Action Plan is the guidelines and general plan for all preparations leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games. It was released by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) July 13, 2002. For an English translation of the general action plan, please click on the link below:
Venue Construction
37 venues will be used for Olympic competitions; 32 of which are in Beijing and 5 of which are outside of the city. Of the 32 venues in Beijing, 19 will be newly-constructed (including 6 temporary sites) and 13 are existing facilities to be renovated or extended. In addition, 59 training sites will be renovated and special facilities for the Parolympics will be constructed. Of the 5 venues outside Beijing, the Qingdao International Sailing Center, Tianjin Stadium, and Qinhuangdao Stadium will be newly constructed while Shenyang Wulihe Stadium and Shanghai Stadium are existing ones to be renovated. A total of over US$ 2 billion will be spent on development of these venues.
Of specific interest, the "Olympic Green" containing 13 venues, will be the center for the 2008 Olympics. In addition to the National Stadium, National Indoor Stadium, and National Swimming Center, it also includes the, the Main Press Center, the International Broadcasting Center, and Olympic Village. Total investment in the Olympic Village itself is expected to be US$ 480 million.
The Beijing municipal government has announced that it understands the necessity for foreign direct investment in developing all of these projects and is thus working to create a favorable investment environment. Policies such as sub-market land pricing, governmental risk support, and post-Olympic ownership tendering are all part of an effort to increase interest in facilities development.
Environment
In the next 5 years, Beijing will spend nearly US$ 7 billion on environmental projects. In the area of environmental protection, US $800 million will be spent on preventing coal burning pollution. This includes construction of natural gas pipelines and storage tanks resulting in a 400 to 500% of natural gas usage by 2007, improving electricity distribution, reengineering power supply structure, implementing European Standard II automobile emission standards, and increasing the use of clean natural gas (CNG) and liquid natural gas (LNG) powered buses and taxis. Beijing will also speed up the development of facilities for treatment and dumping of domestic waste, and improve sewage systems and urban waterways.
In the area of ecological environment development, major forestation projects will be undertaken in the mountain and plains areas surrounding the city as well as in the "three rivers and two sandbanks" (namely the Yongding River, the Chaobai River, the Dasha River, Kangzhuang in Yanqing County, and Nankou in Changping) in order to eliminate the effects of sand storms in Beijing. A massive greenbelt surrounding the entire metropolitan area will be developed. Urban forestation and beautification projects will be implemented throughout the city with the goal of 45% greens coverage in Beijing proper. Also, there will be a push to move industries currently operating within the city center to surrounding areas.
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – sub-Plan for Environmental Protection
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – sub-Plan for Energy Development and Energy Mix Readjustment
Information Technology
Beijing will invest US$ 3.6 billion in IT. Fiber optic networks will be expanded throughout the city. The mobile communications network capacity will be increased. A digital network capable of HDTV transmission will be established for all Olympic venues. GPS technology will be used in transportation control. Beijing will push forward the development of new technologies by developing high tech facilities in the Haidian district.
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – Special Program for Construction of Digital Olympics
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – Specific Plan for Hi-Tech Olympics Construction
Transportation and Energy
Beijing plans to spend US$ 10.8 billion to develop its transportation system over the next five years. Construction will include highways, city expressways, subway lines, and an intra-city light rail. 4 transportation hubs with large parking facilities will be created around second ring road in order to reduce traffic at the city core. 148.5 kilometers of new subway/rail lines will be added including a direct lines from downtown to the Olympic Green and from Dongzhimen to the airport. The Capital Airport itself will be expanded as well. Beijing will adopt US systems for monitoring and controlling traffic within the city.
US$ 1.8 billion will be spent on water, electric, gas, and heating facilities. Beijing Power Supply Bureau is planning to further improve the capacity of the city's power supply system with several projects due for completion in 2005. It will open a new 500kv power distribution station at Xifenglu, and 15 other 200kv power distribution stations.
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – Transport Construction and Traffic Management Plan
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – Specific Plan for Hi-Tech Olympics Construction
Beijing Olympic Action Plan – sub-Plan for Energy Development and Energy Mix Readjustment
Key Contacts and Useful Links
Beijing Municipal Government
http://www.bjgov.gov.cn (Chinese only)
General Office
Tel: (86-10) 6519-2233
BOCOG: Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
http://www.beijing-olympic.org.cn
Venue Planning & Construction Dept.
Tel: (86-10) 6400-3053
Fax: (86-10) 6400-9925
Technology Dept.
Tel: (86-10) 6400-5185
Fax: (86-10) 6400-9229
International Relations Dept.
Tel: (86-10) 6400-3967
Fax: (86-10) 6400-2970
BMCPC: Beijing Municipal City Planning Commission
http://www.bjghw.gov.cn
Tel: (86-10) 6802-2994
Fax: (86-10) 6802-2672
BDPC: Beijing Development Planning Commission
http://www.bjinvest.gov.cn/index.html
http://olympic.bjinvest.gov.cn/index.jsp (Olympic Tendering Information Website)
Olympic Project Office:
Tel: (86-10) 6641-5588
Fax: (86-10) 6641-4180
AmCham: The American Chamber of Commerce
http://www.amcham-china.org.cn
Olympics Forum: Mitch Presnick
Email: presnick@attglobal.net