Will Beijing seize the chances offered by the 2008 Olympics to boost its economic, social and cultural development? According to a panel of experts attending a seminar in the city on Sunday, the answer is definitely "yes."

Yao Yongling, a researcher from Renmin University of China, said as the country's capital, Beijing has many superior advantages in hosting the 2008 Games. She said the city could seize the potential of the event as it is now in the latter stage of industrialization, a knowledge economy is becoming more and more evident, and its urbanization process is accelerating.

Hosting the 2008 Games could help Beijing improve its urban infrastructure and environmental quality, propel economic and social progress and make the city better to live in, Yao said at the Fourth International Forum on the Beijing Olympic Games.

Though advice varies, one member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged Beijing Games organizers to push cultural activities during the Olympics to ensure the event is a "complete success."

Ung Chang, who is also president of the International Taekwondo Federation, suggested Beijing extend activities in the Olympic Village to various parts of the city to bring the events to the people.

Furthermore, Ung suggested the media feature athletes' lives rather than focusing on the medal count. He made the comments during a speech at the forum, which drew some 40 delegates from home and abroad including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Greece, the Netherlands and Canada.

The annual forum, "Olympic Creative Industry and City Development," was co-organized by the Department of Culture and Ceremonies of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), the Humanistic Olympic Studies Centre of Renmin University of China, and Beijing's Haidian District government.

The participants discussed such topics as "the creative industry in the context of the Olympic Games," "the Olympics and urban development," "the development of Olympic culture" and "typical cases of the Olympic cultural industry."

More creative ideas needed.

But John Howkins, economist and "father" of the creative industry in the United Kingdom, has his own ideas. He said the Chinese people should offer better ideas in seizing the opportunities as host of the Olympics to showcase their cultural and social achievements overseas.

He said the creative industry, an extension of the conventional cultural industry, is now valued at some US$2.95 trillion, accounting for 7.3 per cent of the global economy and increasing at a rate of 7 per cent each year.

To make the Beijing 2008 Games a success, he said: "The organizers should bring together artists, singers, athletes and top physiologists to let them discuss the links between creative process and successful athletic performance."

As the cultural centre of China, Beijing should make the creative industry one of the major economic pillars of the city, said Cai Fuchao, chairman of the organizing committee of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival.

Feng Xia, a researcher from Beijing Union University, told the seminar in a written paper that she thinks culture is the essence and ultimate power of human beings.

As sports culture now plays a more and more important role in China's social development, it should help create "soft" environments for the Beijing Olympics, which will be both harmonious and civilized, she said.

Desmond Hui, director of the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Hong Kong, said as the Olympics itself is a cultural and creative industry, or an "experience" economy, Beijing should focus on four components the attraction of talent, improvement of the economy, social and cultural development, and a harmonious society so as to foster city development through the 2008 Games.

Besides the athletes, the host city should also focus on the interests of volunteers, torchbearers, citizens, visitors and spectators in order to ensure mass participation, said Roy Panagiotopoulou, a professor of media and communications at Athens University.

Beatriz Garcia, cultural consultant for the London 2012 Olympic Games, said she thought the Olympics should offer a meaningful showcase of how a city operates.

"It should be a platform to transmit the Olympic spirit beyond the Games and into a whole region. We can turn a city into an art museum after the Olympic Games ends," she said.

The forum is part of the Fourth Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival.

Other events at the festival include:

TV Programme: Olympic Knowledge Quiz Show;

aunch Ceremony of "Beijing Mobile"Cup People's Exercise Week & Walking Event;

International Sports Festival;

Sports Activities in the Suburbs;

Second Beijing International Sport Film Festival;

Fourth International Forum on Beijing Olympic Games Olympic Music Forum;

Olympic Music Park;

Olympic-themed Community Activities.

(China Daily 07/14/2006 page5)