International Forum on the Construction and Operation of the Olympic Stadium

Olympic Construction Forum Scheduled

An international forum concerning Olympic construction - a meeting of stakeholders and suppliers - is scheduled for April 18 at the Beijing Hotel in Beijing.

Wang Hui, director of the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and Liu Zhi, deputy director-general of the Beijing Development and Reform Commission (BDRC), said the purpose of the forum is to foster direct contacts between the owner-builders of Olympic venues and those who want to supply them.

Liu said the forum will also address issues concerning the Games and post-Games use of 2008 Olympic Games facilities.

He said that the Olympics and sports are very important, "but the significance of this goes beyond sports. It is to improve the image of Beijing and to provide tangible benefits for the people of Beijing…The Olympics will improve life in Beijing."

In example, Liu said the impetus of the Olympics will allow city leaders to upgrade transportation networks in the city, which will alleviate current traffic congestion in the city. City development and planning will be "completely restructured," and the many facilities for sports that will be built will be made available to the public so they can improve their physical fitness, improve their outlooks on life raise the overall cultural level of Beijingers.

"This is one thing we learned from all the other Olympics."

He said the entire economic development process in Beijing will be expedited by the Olympics.

Liu said this year's conference will be different from those held in the past.

"This international forum or market promotion forum will be an activity of the Beijing Development and Reform Commission. More will be held, but each forum will be different. Last year, the emphasis was on business opportunities for investors, on consumption and development. This year, we will focus on the construction and the operation of Olympic venues since most of the venues have entered construction."

Liu said the forum was originally planned as a small-scale, low-key event, but "more than 300 people have signed up so the scope of this forum has expanded."

He said he did not expect any contracts to be concluded at the forum. He said the purpose was to arrange a meeting between venue owners and potential suppliers.

He said the progress of Olympic venue construction and questions of safety, including the National Stadium or "Bird's Nest," will be discussed at the forum, and Wang said another press conference would be held to discuss that issue.

Liu, answering an environmental reporter's question, said there would be a heavy emphasis on "green construction" in Olympic venue building, as exemplified by the slogan "Green Olympics."

"Energy conservation and environmentally friendly construction are very important. Environmental companies are expressly invited to attend and participate in the forum.

"We have also asked venue owners to give full expression to our "Green, High-tech, Cultural Olympics."

Answering a question from a Taiwan television newsman, Liu said Taiwan-based businessmen are already involved in the Olympic construction process."

Wang declined to answer a question from the same reporter about whether the 2008 Olympic Torch would be carried in Taiwan, but she added, "A special news conference will be held to address that issue; I beg your patience."

Further information and registration forms for the forum are available in Chinese and English at: www.bjinvest.gov.cn; Tel: +86 10 6641 1492 or 6641 5588, ext. 0840; Fax: +86 10 6641 5588, ext. 0840 or 6603 7515; E-mail: invest@beic.gov.cn.