The upcoming Olympics in China has become one of the
most popular topics amount most the Chinese and a significant stimulant
to China economic growth for the years to come.
In December 2001, China announced the formation of
the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad,
or BOCOG for short. Responsible for the mammoth task of the Olympic's
preparation and implementation. An US$21.8 billion has been allocated
for the staging of the Beijing Olympics, to improve on the infrastructure
and other project preparation for the Games and part of the China's
strategic 5 years planning. Currently with an estimate of 600 local
and foreign companies including global giants are poised to bid
for the infrastructure and other Olympics related facilities.
The winning bidders each specialized in their own field
will only have a few short years to transform the increasingly "green"
Chinese capital from its present spectacular mix of ancient and
modern city into a truly 21st century metropolis that can be rated
as one of the world's top cities for its various attractions at
every level - cultural, historical, architecture, transportation
and environment.
In the coming years, about US$10.8 billion from the
allocated fund will go to improvements of the Capital Airport in
Beijing to increase it capacity and city's road system. US$5.4 billion
is earmarked for further environmental protection and pollution
control, and around US$3.6 billion for developing Beijing into a
"digital" society. The remaining US$1.8 billion will be
used to increase supplies of power, water, heat and gas, thus bringing
overall improvement to people's quality of life.
In Year 2008, Capital Airport in Beijing will have
a third runway, a third terminal and an increase of 55 parking bays
for 130 airplanes arrival at anytime. The infrastructure of the
airport will be further enhanced to handle 48 million passengers
a year instead of current 30 million. This is to cater for the forecasted
increase in traffic volume due to economic growth and popular tourist
attraction.
The new look Beijing will also have a 93 km fifth ring
road, linking a wider geographical area outskirt of Beijing. In
addition, there will be another 35 km expressways and a total of
105 km of extensions to existing roads to improve the transportation
infrastructure.
Subway will be part of the important means of transport
for the travellers. By 2008 Beijing will have seven subway lines
with an overall capacity of 1.74 billion passengers per year compared
to the current 480 million. This is required to support the increase
in population in Beijing as more and more Chinese people seeking
job opportunities in the city. In addition, a magnetic suspension
railway line will connect the Capital Airport to Beijing providing
a journey time of just 15 minutes to facilitate the upcoming traffic
generated from the Olympics events.
Other improvements including the magnificent Olympics
Village and other citywide sports venues are also in store. These
will also include a program to improve the quality of air, planting
of trees and grass on 23,000 hectares along the banks of the city's
major rives and highways to make Beijing a "green" city;
A digital cable TV network will also be in place to enhance media
communication.
The Beijing's construction boom will create tens of
thousands of jobs both for local people and immigrant workers drawn
from China's under-developed regions, and to sustain an economic
growth of 7 to 9 percent for the years to come.
Resource material:
1. "Beijing This Month" September 2001 Issue 94
2. "Beijing This Month" January 2002 Issue 98
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