Source: CCTV.com

04-29-2008 20:19

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

It's about 100 days to go before the start of the world's biggest sporting event and that's of course the Olympics. Organizers are set to deliver what they hope will be one the most impressive games in history. This month's BizChina 360 takes a special look at the Beijing Olympics, and what it will bring to the country not just in terms of business opportunities, but in other areas in the longer run.

In this first installment, Zheng Junfeng reveiws the Olympic budget. He explains that while some feel the cost is high, it's worth every penny.

These are the two marquis Olympic venues that have not only been the talk of the town, but the talk of the world as Beijing puts the final touches to its 40 billion US dollar makeover, ahead of the Olympic games.

These are the two marquis Olympic venues that have not only been the talk of the town, but the talk of the world as Beijing puts the final touches to its 40 billion US dollar makeover, ahead of the Olympic games.

With 42,000 tons of interlocking steel, the National Stadium has been dubbed the "Bird's Nest". At one point, this structure had 7,000 people working on it simultaneously. It's taken four years to build at a price tag of 500 million US dollars.

That cost may sound staggering. But look at it this way. Athens spent 400 million US dollars on its National Stadium-and that was just for renovations alone. As for London, the host of the next Olympic Games, a billion US dollars has been earmarked for its National Stadium. Couple that with the pride and joy that Chinese people are feeling, and perhaps one may think it's money, well spent.

One visitor said "The bird's nest looks strong and concrete. I feel a sense of masculinity and structure."

If the Bird's Nest showcases China's strength and power or yang, then the 200-million US dollar girl next door, the Water Cube, is perhaps China's yin.

The structure is covered with over 100,000 square meters of ETFE pillows, a very special type of plastic. It helps to create an airy and misty atmosphere inside the stadium. And the environmental upside, is immense.

Dong Shilin, Member of Chinese Academy of Engineering said "The Water Cube ETFE pillows are only eight one-thousandths of an inch in total thickness. They allow more light and heat penetration than traditional glass, and trap up to 90 percent of the solar energy to heat the pools. This technology helps reduce energy consumption by 30 percent."

Two out of the 40 billion US dollar budget was earmarked for the construction or renovation of 31 Olympic venues in Beijing. And organizers say they've managed to stay within budget.

Jiang Xiaoyu, Vice President of BOCOG said "The construction of the Olympic venues has been running smoothly and according to plan. And we always encouraged frugality in the build-up to the Games."