Seven new venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will begin construction in the first half of this year, a top official with the municipal construction commission announced yesterday.
 
Meanwhile, a dozen sports faci-lities in Beijing will be rebuilt or expanded in the second half of the year to meet the requirements of the big event, says Liu Yongfu, director of the Beijing Municipal Construction Commission.

Four affiliated facilities including the National Conference Centre, the Olympic village and the journalists' village will also start construction within the year, he said.

The official told a press conference held yesterday at the third session of the 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, that the Olympic venues and facilities will be environmentally friendly, saving energy and of good quality.

All of the Olympic venues should be completely finished by the end of 2007, Liu said.

Also at yesterday's conference, the vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Communications, Liu Xiaoming, said that the road network surrounding the Olympic Green is under construction.

"Nearly 70 roads will serve the area," he said.

Subways and urban expressways are also in massive construction ahead of 2008, when the 29th Games will be held in Beijing.

"Efficient and convenient traffic facilities will help guarantee a succe-ssful Games in 2008," Liu said.

Environmental protection tops the agenda as Olympic venues and communications facilities are being built.

Pei Chenghu, vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau, of Environmental Protection said the authority will strengthen management over construction sites to control building dust.

"The main pollutant for Beijing particle matter is attributed mostly to dust from construction sites throughout the city," he said.

"Building sites that fail to reach national environmental standards will be closed until improvements are made," Pei said.

According to goals set by the Beijing municipal government, the number of days of good air quality should reach 63 per cent of days this year, 0.5 percentage point higher than the figure last year.

"I am feeling great pressure now as pollution must decrease although the number of work sites is to increase," he said.

In another development, the director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, Chen Gang, yesterday denied rumours that the central and municipal government headquarters located in the centre of Beijing will be moved to the eastern part of the city.

"According to the urban overall layout for Beijing, which was approved by the State Council, part of the industries, residents and service facilities including schools, hospitals and department stores will be transferred outside the centre of the city," Chen said.

Advice to move the administrative buildings in the centre of Beijing to the east were put forward by experts in drafting the layout. Central government organs and the municipal government are gathered within the Second Ring Road.