Liu Zhihua (5th left) and Xu Jian (3rd left) lays the foundation for the Media Village.

   The Media Village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games broke ground on November 25, 2005.

   Located outside the north fifth ring road of Beijing, the Media Village is to the northeast of the Olympic Green and the Olympic Forest Park. Covering 630,000 square meters, the project is just five kilometers, or within ten minutes' drive, from the major Olympic competition venues and the Main Press Centre. It can provide up to 6,000 rooms to accredited media during the Olympic Games.

   In line with "Green Olympics, Hi-tech Olympics and People's Olympics" advocated by the organizers of the Beijing Olympic Games, new technologies and green concepts are incorporated into the design and construction of the project, such as the utilities of geothermal energy and solar energy, green construction materials and a rain water-recycling system.

   Present at the ground-breaking ceremony were Liu Zhihua, Vice Mayor of Beijing, and Xu Jian, of BOCOG Venue Planning and Construction Department. The project is planned to be completed at the beginning of 2008.

   Aside from the new media village that just broke ground, two existing accommodation facilities have also been selected as media villages and will provide additional 2,500 rooms. Moreover, 46 hotels in Beijing have been so far identified by the organizers of the Beijing Olympic Games as media hotels, making around 15,000 hotel rooms available for the accredited media. Quick access to the Main Press Centre and major competition venues is one of the priorities for the organizers in the selection of media accommodation facilities.

   Around 21,600 accredited media representatives from 202 countries and regions are expected to come to Beijing during the 29th edition of the Olympic Games.

Effect view of the Media Village.

Construction vehicles at the site.