Advisory bodies to promote Games
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-03-18 08:43

Beijing will invite 20 advisory institutes to participate in the promotion of its Olympic projects, it has been revealed.

And two professionals with experience in promoting Olympic-related business will also be employed.

Ding Xiangyang, director of the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, told China Daily that the commission is looking for qualified institutes and people with the right backgrounds to fill the positions, which will be conduced through a public bidding process.

"We want them to introduce professional marketing techniques and a rich experience based on Olympic-related business operations," Ding said.

According to the commission, the sponsor and organizer for 2008 Olympic projects, institutes engaged in research, consultancy, accounting, law and investment are preferred.

"They will be responsible for providing project packaging, marketing designs, policy-making consultancy and policy research services for us, and both domestic and foreign institutes are welcomed," Ding said.

Furthermore, the commission will employ two experts, who have taken part in past Games, to offer suggestions and proposals to the government. Ding declined to say how much they would get paid.

The 2008 Games will create huge opportunities.

Research conducted by the commission shows that, from now to the 2008 Olympics, Beijing will spend 1.5 trillion yuan (US$180 billion).

And investment related to the grand sports event will exceed 280 billion yuan (US$33.73 billion).

The marketing for Olympic projects will be officially launched on April 18, when a promotion fair will be hosted by the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

"For several days after we held a press conference to announce the fair, the shares of several enterprises involved in Olympic projects rose swiftly," Ding said.

According to Ding, the share prices of China Sports Industry Co Ltd, China Road & Bridge Construction Co Ltd and Sunshine Co Ltd all rose their 10 per cent daily limits the day after the press conference.

China Road & Bridge has revealed that its sales revenue is expected to increase by 100 per cent in 2003 due to its participation in constructing roads for the Games.

"During the fair, we will promote 370 Olympic projects with combined investment of around 100 billion yuan (US$12.05 billion)," Ding said.

The projects include infrastructure construction and renovation, real estate development, the building of stadiums and gyms, high-tech applications, environmental protection and tourism.

The promotion, bidding and operation of the projects will be carried out under a strict market-oriented model.

And a website has been launched by the commission to provide detailed information obout the projects to potential investors.

In addition, the site offers policy guidance, consultancy services and an explanation of law for visitors.

"We set up the platform to help investors clearly understand what they can do and how they can get the information they need conveniently and efficiently," Ding said.

"The website will become a permanent showcase for them to get all of Beijing's investment information.

"The Olympics offer a golden opportunity for Beijing to improve its economic structure, optimize its industrial layout and enhance its image."

One of the most noticeable changes in Beijing due to the Games will be its transportation infrastructure.

The metro lines, including the subway and light rail, and expressway will reach 300 kilometres and 890 kilometres by 2008, respectively, compared with the present 104 kilometres and 300 kilometres.

Also, the municipal government will spend as much as 40 billion yuan (US$4.82 billion) to upgrade the communications network in the city this year.