China, one of the world's emerging superpowers, recently increased her exposure in the world stage as she hosted the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The Olympics is a quadrennial event which is participated by about 120 countries, with players engaging themselves in various sports, from track-and-field to javelin throwing, from basketball to soccer, from swimming to diving, you name it.
Beijing did not waste time in finding the venues after being chosen to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. The city and the national government worked hand-in-hand to gather the best team of engineers, architects and landscape designers to jumpstart this most important project because they knew that big investments will be pouring in. In addition to this, more Beijing hotels were built in anticipation of the visitor surge during the games.
The government planned to use a site wide enough to put the various stadiums and complexes in one place. This would increase productivity of the players while reducing travel time from one venue to another. Located at the north end of the central axis of Beijing, the planners named the area the Olympic Green, where thirty-one sporting venues can be seen.
Most of the hotels in Beijing are accessible from the Olympic Green because they are located near the city's cultural and business districts. A number of important sporting venues are located within the Green. The most notable of these is the Beijing National Stadium. Inspired by the beauty and intricacy of Chinese ceramics, the designers were finally able to construct it. Known as the 'Bird's Nest,' it was the venue for the football and athletics finals as well as in the opening and closing ceremonies where 91,000 people attended.
The Beijing National Aquatics Center, better known as the 'Water Cube,' is another unique structure. Its design is based on soap bubbles, which are air-filled pockets of translucent plastic. The building illuminates with colors which change from time to time at night. This was the place where swimming, diving and synchronized swimming competitions were held.
The Beijing National Indoor Stadium, nicknamed 'The Fan' due to its design resembling a traditional Chinese holding fan, hosted Artistic Gymnastics, Tramp lining and Handball events. Also within the Green is the Convention Center, a 270,000 square-meter structure which was used for Fencing and the Modern Pentathlon. It was also the International Broadcast Center where the press covered the entire games.
The Beijing Olympic Village was the temporary residence of the athletes. Made up of twenty-two six-storey buildings and twenty nine-storey buildings, it resembles some of the hotels in Beijing.
During this time, Beijing hotels were at sky-high, having good occupancy rates continuing for months. The city and the country were the stars of the show. Indeed, the 2008 Summer Olympics was a coming-out-party for China and its people. For a nation once dubbed the Sleeping Dragon, she has now finally awakened! - 30417
Beijing did not waste time in finding the venues after being chosen to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. The city and the national government worked hand-in-hand to gather the best team of engineers, architects and landscape designers to jumpstart this most important project because they knew that big investments will be pouring in. In addition to this, more Beijing hotels were built in anticipation of the visitor surge during the games.
The government planned to use a site wide enough to put the various stadiums and complexes in one place. This would increase productivity of the players while reducing travel time from one venue to another. Located at the north end of the central axis of Beijing, the planners named the area the Olympic Green, where thirty-one sporting venues can be seen.
Most of the hotels in Beijing are accessible from the Olympic Green because they are located near the city's cultural and business districts. A number of important sporting venues are located within the Green. The most notable of these is the Beijing National Stadium. Inspired by the beauty and intricacy of Chinese ceramics, the designers were finally able to construct it. Known as the 'Bird's Nest,' it was the venue for the football and athletics finals as well as in the opening and closing ceremonies where 91,000 people attended.
The Beijing National Aquatics Center, better known as the 'Water Cube,' is another unique structure. Its design is based on soap bubbles, which are air-filled pockets of translucent plastic. The building illuminates with colors which change from time to time at night. This was the place where swimming, diving and synchronized swimming competitions were held.
The Beijing National Indoor Stadium, nicknamed 'The Fan' due to its design resembling a traditional Chinese holding fan, hosted Artistic Gymnastics, Tramp lining and Handball events. Also within the Green is the Convention Center, a 270,000 square-meter structure which was used for Fencing and the Modern Pentathlon. It was also the International Broadcast Center where the press covered the entire games.
The Beijing Olympic Village was the temporary residence of the athletes. Made up of twenty-two six-storey buildings and twenty nine-storey buildings, it resembles some of the hotels in Beijing.
During this time, Beijing hotels were at sky-high, having good occupancy rates continuing for months. The city and the country were the stars of the show. Indeed, the 2008 Summer Olympics was a coming-out-party for China and its people. For a nation once dubbed the Sleeping Dragon, she has now finally awakened! - 30417
About the Author:
E. Larson is a long-time expatriate in Beijing, China. He works closely with the Phoenix Palace Beijing hotel and many other beijing hotels. Go to his website on the Phoenix Palace Beijing Hotel here.
