Beijing is making minor changes to Olympic venue construction plans on the basis of economic and feasibility evaluations. They will not, however, influence the planned function or outlook of any of the venues.

There are three criteria for change. "First, we want to make optimum use of existing resources. Second, ensure their designs are up to Olympic standards; and third, ascertain to what use they may be put when the games are over," said Liu Jingmin, vice-mayor of Beijing and executive president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the XXIX Olympiad. Beijing is about to invest 22 billion yuan on construction. Actual expenditure may, however, exceed 50-70 percent of the budget, and according to expert estimation, at least 3 billion yuan must be "optimized."

"We need to make down-to-earth preparations rather than unrealistically luxurious projections," said Liu Jingmin. He also revealed that construction is to finish in 2007 rather than 2006, as originally promised in the city's bid. This was agreed at the suggestion of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Co-ordination Commission.