An Analysis of the Impacts Beijing of 2008 Olympics on the city’s Development
Abstract:
1 Promoting the attractiveness of the Host City
Being the host city of the Olympics will put the city in the international spotlight.
Promotional campaigns of the bidding for and hosting the Games will be launched
with themes based on patriotism, capital awareness, and national pride.
2 Economic Benefits
The city will gain remarkable economic benefits (income, employment and
infrastructure) in hosting the Beijing Olympics. Also, a large number of coaches,
referees, journalists, foreign government officials, members of the IOC, renowned
sponsors and numerous tourists will be attracted here as consumers of various
services such as catering, accommodation, transportation and communication. All
these will contribute to the city’s economic prosperity.
3 Enormous tourism income
Beijing will attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. By the time of
the Olympics, Beijing will become a very popular travel destination. Thus, the
economies of Beijing and its surrounding areas, especially tourism-related core
industries throughout the country will be benefited from the Games. Owing to the
investment in the Olympics-related infrastructures, including the construction of
subway lines, railways, highways, airport and environmental management projects,
all these greatly improved facilities creating a better tourism destination.
4 Speed up Urban Developments in Beijing
Improving the city’s infrastructures has become the principal incentive to bid for
hosting the Olympics. Hosting the Games helps pool resources for urban
development, which even implies that if it was not for the sake of the Olympics, it
would have been difficult to speed up city’s development in such a short period of
time. It poses a positive impact to Beijing’s economic growth and urban
development.
5 Creating Jobs
It normally takes 6 to 7 years to prepare for the opening of the Olympic Games.
During this time, the construction of various sports competition venues,
transportation system, communication and services facilities require a large
number of labour. With the Olympics’ approaching, the demand from the service
sector in the host city will increase. This in turn creates more jobs, and it helps to
alleviate the unemployment problem of the host cities.
6 Sports Development and Facilities
The sports facilities built for the 2008 Olympics will not be left idle after the
Games. They will be available for sports training and open to the public.
7 Effect of the Games on the Advancement in Science and Technology
The continuous upgrading of venues, facilities and equipment requires a high level
of technology. In this regards, the Olympics helps enhance sports technologies and
the quality of manufacturing sporting goods in the host country.
8 Influence on Ideology and Life-style
The Beijing Olympic Games has given rise to the trend of learning the language
used in the host nation. In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, there was an English trend
among the Koreans. Many young to middle-age people started to improve their
proficiency in the language in order to better communicate with foreign guests and
be capable of introducing their country. Ever since Beijing’s proposal to bid for
hosting the Olympics, the city’s administration started to launch activities like
“Let All Citizens Learn English”. These kinds of activities are widely promoted in
the tourism industry and the English level of hotel, restaurant and shopping centre
employees has seen a remarkable improvement.
Source:
“An Analysis of the Influence of 2008 Olympics on Beijing’s City Development”,
Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform
http://big5.bjpc.gov.cn/fzgh/qqyj/200508/t270.htm