The 2008 Olympic Games

The 2008 Olympic Games

Beijing is undergoing a major makeover as it prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics: just about everywhere you look, you'll find feverish activity. Whole city blocks have been razed to make way for state-of-the-art Olympic venues, new hotels, and modern buildings. Subway lines are being expanded, including a welcome new line that will link downtown Beijing with the airport; overpasses are being built seemingly overnight; and roads are being widened. Furthermore, the Capital International Airport, already badly strained by the large number of passengers passing through, is working on a major expansion.

Some 2½ million visitors, including 500,000 foreigners and 20,000 journalists, are expected to descend on the Chinese capital in 2008, and the Chinese are determined to put on the best games ever. The government moved so fast to complete Olympic structures that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) actually had to ask them to slow down. IOC officials were afraid the high-tech sporting venues would lose some of their luster before the August 8, 2008, opening ceremony rolls around.

The projects, many designed by top international architects, are impressive to say the least. Twelve brand-new Olympic venues are being built from scratch, with another 11 existing structures being renovated. All will be ready in time for the Olympic trial runs. Check out en.beijing2008.com for more details.