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Qingdao Green Olympics :: 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta Preparation |
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  The Qingdao 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta couldn't have come at a better time for Shandong Province. Just when China is trying to find a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability, it is set to host a worldwide event which will no doubt put its environmental protection progress under the microscope, giving the nation extra motivation to improve its environment and protection standards.
 To promote these Green Olympics, a total of 5 million volunteers have been involved in tree planting over the past few years. More than 37,000 hectares of trees were planted in Qingdao under the afforestation projects in 2003 as the city is working toward a "Green Olympics." They have also installed numerous solar panels and wind power turbines near the Qingdao International Marina and the Olympic Village to help generate power. The 168 lamps in the Marina run on solar and wind power. During the Olympic Village Construction a 47-meter tunnel has been constructed through the YanErDao Hill to protect its vegetation and natural scenery. This design will serve as a model for future tunnel construction in Qingdao's mountainous regions. Nearly constant temperature seawater is used as source to supply cool or heat for Venue Media Center. This is the first use of this technology in large-scale construction all over the country. 
The city will raise its pollution control standards for factories and businesses and promote clean manufacturing technologies. It will also advocate green consumption, ban the use of super- thin plastic bags, disposable dishes and chopsticks, and encourage the use of environmentally-friendly products and the recycling of waste materials.
After the competitions, all the facilities will be transformed to tourist sites, making the center one of most appealing and entertaining scenes in Qingdao.
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