Wang Qishan, executive president of Beijing 2008 announced at the second plenum of the Beijing 2008 organizing committee that Beijing will unveil its modified budget for the 2008 Games this year.
He said, “as circumstances have changed over the past several years since Beijing won the Olympic bid, we have adjusted the budget accordingly for the 2008 Games. The new budget will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in May”.
Operational cost of the 2008 Games had originally been budgeted at $1.609 billion (U.S.) while Beijing’s total input on infrastructure and other Olympic-related fields could reach $37 billion.
Following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States and the SARS epidemic in 2003 Beijing was forced to increase the budget for security and health.
Wang said the Olympic torch relay route and the mascot will also be unveiled this year.
BOCOG is planning to carry the Olympic torch over Mount Qomolangma, the world’s highest peak, in 2008.
Meanwhile it’s reported that the selection of an Olympic mascot is well underway.
