The SCMP is one of my favorite sources of information (South China Morning Post, Hong Kong). They have an excellent website that I visit daily.
They published an article, see down below, that unfortunately is one more in the long list of media screw ups when reporting on what Beijing really did to prepare the city for the Games. The story also came in similar lines in other media, saying the city would sign contracts to transfer the stadiums to private operators. As for the National Stadium, the government does not own it at all. The owner of the Water Cube is BSAM, as such it can be considered government property. For both, post-Olympic operation is still a bit hazy and uncertain, a result from government interference in the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) project.
The amount of trash (including on CNN and alike) regarding Beijing’s investment for the Games has no limit. Fair to say, Beijing is mostly to blame as they excel in shooting themselves in the foot through clumsy PR. I guess they need some decades more to improve that.
See below the Letter to the Editor I sent – apparently never published nor commented.
29 August 2008
Dear SCMP
The information in this article is so wrong I don’t know where to start.
The National Stadium is NOT owned by the government, the 58% is NOT related to any “corporate sponsorship” and no 30 operating contract needs to be signed because I already helped to sign that very contract many years ago, working for the Beijing Government and BSAM (Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co., Ltd.).
Whatever your so-called sources say, they have no clue what they are talking about.
By the way, I streamlined the tendering & contract approach for both the Watercube and Bird’s Nest.
As for the naming rights, while the government could in principle object it is the right of the owners of the stadium that count. The owner is a CJV (Contractual Joint Venture) between the winner of the tender (42%) and BSAM (58% – passive investor).
Here is the full article:
29 August 2008 – Commerce eyed at iconic venues
Al Guo – SCMP
The “Water Cube” and “Bird’s Nest” will be revamped into commercial venues as soon as the Paralympic Games have finished, although a detailed plan has yet to be authorised by the Beijing municipal government.
Under an initial plan drafted by the city’s tourism bureau, 11,000 of the 17,000 seats in the “Water Cube” would be removed. In their place, a water entertainment centre and shopping centre would be built.
“The entry price is to be reasonable enough for ordinary people to afford,” Beijing Tourism Administration director Zhang Huiguang said.
The commercialisation plan also included the National Stadium, or “Bird’s Nest”, for which 48 per cent of the construction cost was funded by corporate sponsorship.
It had been planned that operating rights would be awarded to the sponsors for 30 years after the Games, and the naming rights would be sold to support its operation.
But pressure from the media, officials and the public to keep the name National Stadium, a source of national pride, has cast doubt on the plan to sell the naming rights.
“I cannot tell you anything or even comment on that, because it has become too complicated [for us to handle] at the moment,” the general manager of the company that operates the stadium, Zhang Hengli, said yesterday.
Many state media outlets and experts with strong government background, such as Wei Jizhong, a senior consultant with the Beijing Games’ organisers, said it would be inappropriate to add a company name in front of “National Stadium”. Huang Wei, a business consultant to the Games organisers, said the naming dispute should be solely decided by the government, not the small shareholders or operators.
“As the stadium is owned by the government and named National Stadium, it’s totally for the government to decide whether or when to trade the naming rights,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty, the company operating the stadium would press ahead with marketing the stadium to the tourism and sport sectors, Zhang Hengli said.
Tourists visiting Beijing during the October 1-7 “golden week” national holiday would be able to visit all the Olympic venues for a fee.
Much of the Olympic setup and signage would remain in the venues to give visitors a taste of the Games, tourism chief Zhang Huiguang said.
But the flow of tourists beyond the “golden week” was a big concern for the National Stadium, which, unlike the indoor air conditioned environment of the “Water Cube”, had nothing but an open field and seats.
Mr Zhang said concerts would likely be staged in the arena in the months to come.
It is estimated the National Stadium will cost between 50 million and 70 million yuan a year to maintain.
Mr Huang said the operators of the “Water Cube” and “Bird’s Nest” would have a hard time making enough money to support their daily operations.
He expected the number of people visiting the area would drop once the Olympic mood cooled off, especially once the venues stopped running their lights at night.

Since I started working for the Beijing Olympics, in early 2002, the greatest help I received was for sure from the Sydney 2000 team. They also gave a tremendous support to BOCOG.
Many Australian companies have successfully participated in major projects, one being PTW the architect firm led by John Bilmon who over the years became a good friend. PTW is the lead architect for the famous Watercube and the Olympic Village. It was nice to see again John during the ceremony on 9 August.
Also present were Sandy Hollway, former CEO of SOCOG and David Churches, the two “Olympic Ambassadors from Australia” as I call them. All became good friends and we had private dinners with John, Sandy and David during their stay. We will miss them now that the 2008 Olympics area reality but hope to keep in touch.

During the Austrade/AISES Australian Sports and Events Industry Reception some other famous VIPs attended, such as Simon Crean, the Australian Minister for Trade and Ian Thorpe the famous swimmer who retired in November 2006. The event was chaired by Phil Ingram, the Senior Trade Commissioner of the Australian Embassy in Beijing.
Many other Aussie friends were there and I will really have to visit their country one day…
The Business Club was set up in the Hilton and served as contact point for Australian businesses. Job well done.
[thanks to Daniele Mattioli for some of the pics supplied!]

According to China Daily, “Several foreigners accused of trying to sell tickets for the Beijing Olympics at overinflated prices were escorted to the airport and asked to leave the country over the weekend, a police spokesman said late on Tuesday. Between Friday and Sunday, police questioned a total of 276 “scalpers”, 37 of whom were foreigners. The majority of the suspects were trying to sell tickets at inflated prices in areas close to the main venues, including the Bird’s Nest, Water Cube and the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.”

As it happened I went to the Bird’s Nest yesterday night, with family and friends and saw the signs. And the scalpers everywhere inside the subway at Beitucheng. There was even a foreigner on the street (near the security checkpoint) holding up a big sign in Chinese and English “I buy tickets”.
As usual, the police just intervenes “sometimes” to show TV they do something. And then, nothing. Same for all the pirate copies everywhere. Even under the eyes of the zillion security people at the security checkpoint where they sell “Olympic flags”. I don’t think those are legal either. Oh well, all for the good cause and my friends even bought some.

We also tried the food at the National Stadium to see if the unanimous complaints are valid. Most funny were the lunchboxes we bought: you have to unpack it carefully, pull a string to activate chemicals who produce real hot steam to warm the food. Imagine the mess and the risk of getting burned. Volunteers were very helpful in assisting puzzled customers (like us). But what an amount of waste, not exactly “Green Olympics”. Quality very soso. Inside the Bird’s Nest, the usual waiting lines but it took less time than during the rehearsal. Quality of food: lousy. Pity for a city that has such great food.
The hotels now have taken out their calculators and the results are not good. Occupancy rates overall are DOWN compared to last year. Can you imagine? Of course, if people are not allowed to come to Beijing and can’t get tickets or you have to pay a fortune, no wonder. Don’t blame rain or “security concerns”.
I never managed to get ANY (official) ticket. During the past weeks I had so many tickets available that I only used a very few. At least I am very happy I could join the fun. Next one is the finals of boxing. Next door, yep, lazy me.