China had hosted major sporting events before, such as the World University Games and the Asian Games. However, according to a report from the Beijing Development Institute at Peking University, most sports fields and stadiums built for those events have run at deficit ever since the day they were built. They are in a catch-22: Revenue generated by the facilities can't pay maintenance costs, and at the same time, the high price of tickets used to cover these costs keep many people out of the facilities.

Beijing has prepared 31 sports fields and stadiums for the 2008 Olympic Games. Among the 31 Olympic stadiums in Beijing, 12 of them are brand new, 11 are reconstructed, and 8 are temporary. If these 31 sports fields and stadiums cannot be properly used after the Olympic Games, the cost could be enormous.

Reusable concept

If a sports facility is constructed in a way that it can both meet the demands related to the sport, as well as demands for activities such as cultural, trade and political events, it can be a sustainable solution to the problem seen by other Olympic hosts.

Hong Kong Coliseum is a good example. Built in 1983, the Coliseum was originally designed as a venue for major sporting events. Yet its fame is not from sports contests but as a venue for major concerts. Due to the needs of the community, it has assumed the role of a major venue for staging entertainment related events or large-scale assemblies. In particular, the Coliseum has been able to capitalize on flourishing Canto-pop concerts, and it is expected that this trend will continue into the foreseeable future. During the first two years after the Coliseum was built, the rates of utilization were 55.7 percent and 46.3 percent. As the Coliseum became better known, these rates greatly increased. In 2004, the rate was as high as 96.7 percent. Over the past 20 years the Coliseum has hosted major entertainment events, especially pop music concerts, to fulfill Hong Kong's entertainment needs. Nevertheless, the Coliseum will continue to host sporting events and other large needs, catering to the diversified needs of the community.

According to a report in The Economic Observer, the National Swimming Center took into account multiple post-Olympic functions during its design phase. The sporting area in the design of the "Water Cube" covers only 21.4 percent of the facility. The main function of the center after the Olympics will be as a waterpark, which will include an artificial wave pool and beach, waterslides and facilities for physical exercise and training. By then, it will be the biggest waterpark open to the public in China, and offers ample development space for future operation and management.

The design of the "Bird's Nest" also pays special attention to the multiple functions of fields and spaces inside the stadium, greatly improving the utilization rate of the stadium. After holding the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the Olympic events in between, the stadium will be available for business exhibitions, performances and other functions.

Considering the possible challenges before and after the Beijing Olympic Games, the Beijing Municipal Government hired five experts as senior advisors for Beijing's Olympic economy. Beginning in April, 2005 experts from the United States, Belgium, China and France, experienced in economic research and management during previous Olympics, began their work. Gilbert Van Kerckhove of Belgium, one of the five senior advisors for the Olympic Economy, pointed out that although China has constructed a large number of facilities, most cannot be fully utilized and lack proper management. He said that opening these facilities to the public can satisfy public demands for such facilities and at the same time their entrance fees will pay for the upkeep.

Another way to manage and operate sports fields and stadiums is by combining stadium operations together with professional sports competitions, which is a successful experience of U.S. stadiums. For example, the main stadium of the 1984 Los Angles Olympics still serves as the home court of the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, it is not very practical for China to rely on turning post-Olympic facilities into professional sports venues, said Kerckhove. Improving public participation in a variety of uses for the facilities is the most important factor, he said.