The Unofficial 2008 Beijing Olympics Blog

According to a recenty study released by an official spokesmen, on Monday, it semes the total investment in the 2008 Beijing Olympics has hit 295 billion yuan ($43.13 billion) since 2001. The figures include the Games’ operational fund, venue construction costs and infrastructure investment, could be adjusted when the 16-day event finishes August 24.This makes the Beijing Olympics the most expensive games ever held!

Liu Zhi, a Chinese official was quated as saying Beijing had spent a total of 280 billion yuan (some $40.9 billion) between 2001 and 2007 on infrastructure, energy, transportation and water supply projects. All these projects had been completed two years ahead of schedule due to the Olympics.

The operational fund budget, which was initially set at 1.63 billion yuan, changed three times to the current two billion yuan, due to currency fluctuations and inclusion of additional tasks, Liu added. We all hate inflation, but I guess China is a bit more pissed off about it.

Further reading on BBC and NDTV.

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