Olympics factor is expected to provide 1.82 million job opportunities in the Chinese capital, which will host the global sports event in 2008, Beijing Morning Post quoted a recent report as saying.

The jobs will be created between 2004 and 2008, according to a just-released research report on investment in the 2008 Olympics and the economic development in Beijing.

The Olympics factor will add 0.8 percentage points to Beijing's average annual GDP growth during the five-year period, the report predicted.

To host the 2008 Olympics, Beijing has launched a new round of infrastructure construction and is building an Olympic sports and culture zone to embrace an Olympic park and 17 gymnasiums.

It is estimated that Beijing has pumped 220 billion yuan (some 27 billion U.S. dollars) into infrastructure development projects during the 2001-2005 period, a growth of nearly 60 percent from the 138.3 billion yuan (17.1 billion U.S. dollar) for the 1996-2000 period.

During fours years from 2001 to 2005, 1,100 kilometers of new highways opened to traffic in the national capital, bringing the total highways operational to 14,700 km in the city.

By 2008, the city will have 200 km of subways, including a special line catering for the Olympic Games.

Source: Xinhua