Games of the XXIX Olympiad – 8-24 August 2008: Guide to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games – Education Pack (III)
Environment
The Olympic Green
The Olympic construction projects include 191 environmental protection features like nature friendly construction materials and reclaimed water use.
Protecting the environment and cultural relics
The competition route and venues for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are located well outside the vicinity of protected resource areas and natural habitats.
All of the construction materials and equipment used in the Olympic projects meet environmental standards that exceed the national standards.
The Olympic venues are prohibited from using ozone depleting equipment, and meanwhile, all the venues use energy-saving air-condition equipment.
In the bid for the Olympics, BOCOG (Beijing Olympic Committee) put forward a “Green Olympics” plan that included two parts.
First, during the Olympic preparation period, “green” methods would be employed to minimize the negative affects on the environment from the Olympic Games preparations.
Second, Beijing would push for environmental protection across the city and support the sustainable development of the city.
Renewable energy resources were used across all Olympic projects. For example, the Olympic Village relies on a heat exchange heating and cooling system that makes use of the heat produced in the sewage treatment system. Solar power is used at several venues, and Beijing has also established its first wind-power plant.
The Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. Ltd (BUGC) has established 5 key measures to ensure that the principle of environmental awareness is followed.
These are:
170,000 square metres of forest will be planted on currently bare land in the vicinity of the stadium.
Condition of roads and paths in the main thoroughfare will be improved.
Area around the scenic road to the south of the stadium will undergo a large reforestation project.
Trucks and carts will be hired to disperse water and keep dust in the area to a minimum.
A professional santisation team will be hired to oversee implementation.
Environmental issues
Concern has been raised over the air quality of Beijing and its potential effect on the athletes. Although the Beijing Municipal Government, in its bid file in 2001, committed to lowering air pollution, increasing environmental protection, and introducing environmental technology, research data shows that even if the city were to dramatically cut down its emissions, pollution would still drift over the neighbouring provinces, from which 50% of Beijing’s air is believed to originate.
At current levels, air pollution is at least two to three times higher than levels deemed safe by the World Health organisation. Several countries have also indicated that their athletes will arrive at the game as late as possible to avoid exposure to pollution.
Despite this, Beijing, in its commitment to improve air quality, will remove 60,000 taxis and buses from the roads by the end of 2007, and plans to relocate 200 local factories – including a prominent steel factory – before the games begin.
Transport
Transportation is critical to the success of the Olympic Games. The daily transfer of thousands of athletes, journalists, officials, volunteers, and spectators is extremely complex.
Major infrastructure changes and radical restructuring of existing transport networks will improve traffic flow throughout the city of Beijing.
Transport facts
Subway: Subway system expansion – 7 lines and more than 80 stations are being constructed; having a total amount of 11 railway lines and more than 144 stations, including a direct link to the Beijing capital international airport.
Airport: 11 unmanned trains will each be transporting 83 passengers.
Metro: Each car will be fitted with video screens showing the latest news and events during the Games.
Public transportation: 38 official public transit routes will link the Olympic venues.
Large buses and minibuses: 2,500 buses and 4,500 buses will be operated daily by a total of 8,000 drivers to transport people across various venues.
Cabs: 66,000 cabs will be operating during the Games. Smoking is banned in these cabs, the violation of which will result in a fine of 100 to 200 yuan. Beijing authorities are thus trying to make this a non-smoking event.
Media
The first major radio coverage of the Olympic Games took place at the Berlin Games in 1936, with broadcasts going to about 40 countries.
At those Games there was also limited TV coverage with a closed circuit system to special halls, which was watched by a reported 162,000 people at 28 venues around Berlin.
The first live international TV coverage of the Games came from Rome in 1960, with the 1964 Tokyo pictures the first to be sent by satellite. Live colour pictures were first broadcast from Mexico City in 1968, and slow-motion footage was also available live.
Money from television rights has now become the prime source of income for the International Olympic Committee, and the host city. American TV company NBC paid $2.3 billion for the US rights to the Games of 2004, 2006, 2008.
The Media in Beijing
The Main Press Centre (MPC) is the central work place for the 5,600 accredited written and photographic press covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, providing 24-hour services and facilities, news and information.
Located directly opposite the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), the building housing the MPC sits at a pivotal point on the Olympic Green. It provides accredited press with easy access to the National Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, the National Gymnasium and seven other competition venues. It is only 10 minutes walk to the Olympic Village, and 10 minutes by bus to the Main Media Village.
With a total floor area of 60,000 metres squared, the three-storey MPC for the Beijing Games will be the largest ever in Olympic history. The main functional areas are arranged from the lower ground floor, ground floor to the first floor.
The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) is the heart of the Olympic broadcast operations and the headquarters for the world broadcasters.
It is one of the key non-competition venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and, together with the MPC, one of the first to be fully operational during the Games.
The IBC for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, with a usable space of 90,000 square metres, will be located in the newly-built National Convention Centre within the Beijing Olympic Green. Located in the same complex and to the south of the IBC is the Fencing Hall.
The IBC will offer easy access to Rights Holding Broadcasters, to multiple sporting venues within the Beijing Olympic Green (including the National Stadium) and the National Aquatics Centre.
The IBC will contain studios and production facilities for the Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB) – host broadcaster of the 2008 Games – as well as Rights Holding Broadcasters, and will operate 24 hours a day.
There will be 12,000 rights holding Broadcaster staff and 4,000 staff of the host Broadcasters Beijing Olympic Broadcasting co, Ltd.
This is the final part.
The first two parts were printed on 22 and 29 January 2008
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MIA Olympic Special – What’s On
Friday, 8 February on E22 at 9pm, Sunday, 10 February on E22 at 10am (RPT) and on TVM at 525pm, and Monday, 11 February on E22 at 2.30pm (RPT) will feature the following:
Featured Event
Tenpin Bowling – Medicup
Bowling is one of the indoor sports that has gained momentum and made steady progress during the past years. International success from our bowlers has enhanced this sport and during the past weekend at the Bowling Centre the Medicup was once again organised with great success.
Highlighted Event
Swimming/Rugby
Women’s League
The Aquatic Sports Association over the past weekend held time trials as preparation for the coming events. Amongst the participants during this time trials was Ryan Gambin an Australian who has just come over to Malta in order to potentially participate in the Beijing Olympics.
In past editions of this programme the MRFU Men’s Rugby League has featured on various occasions. This time our cameras chose to take a look at what’s happening in the Women’s Tri-Championships.
MOC Section
Since this year is an Olympic year this programme will start featuring interviews with athletes that will probably be in Beijing for this summer’s games.
Olympic Archive
A trip down memory lane will make us recall past editions of the Olympic Games.
Schedule available every week on www.nocmalta.org and on the Malta Independent newspaper every Tuesday. Produced in collaboration with E22.