Beijing has launched a public bid for the project owner of the National Tennis Center and the National Hockey Stadium, two competition venues for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Yang Jun, deputy director of the construction management committee of the project, told a press conference on Tuesday that the global bid was already underway.

"Prequalification and EOI (expression of interest) documents were issued on April 26," said Yang.

"We will issue the official bidding documents in mid-June and the bidding process is expected to close in mid-September," he added.

The National Tennis Center and National Hockey Stadium, locatedin the Olympic Green in north Beijing, will host the tennis and field hockey competition respectively during the 2008 Games.

The project is designed to cover a plot area of about 422,000 square meters, including some 100,000 square meters for the tenniscenter, 120,000 square meters for the hockey stadium and the remaining for supporting facilities. The tennis center will have 10 competition courts and six practice courts.

According to Yang, market-based financing will be adopted for the project. It means the project will be operated as a financing venture by non-governmental organization (NGO).

"The government may arrange land replacements, financial subsidies, capital inputs, and concessions not longer than 30 years, allowing the NGO a reasonable rate of return," he said.

Source: Xinhua