Beijing can use its experience of hosting the Olympics to benefit the city over the long term, a senior Greek cultural official said on Wednesday.
Sofoklis Psilianos, head of the General Secretariat for the Olympic Utilization under the Greek Ministry of Culture, said that when Athens hosted the event in 2004, as well as building new sports facilities, the city redeveloped much of its infrastructure.
As a result of investment in the airport, metro system, highways and cultural sites, Athens witnessed increased tourism growth in the years following the Games, he said.
Psilianos was speaking to Chinese journalists at the general secretariat in Athens. The government office was set up after the 2004 Games with the principal mission of promoting Olympic heritage and ideals around the world.
"You should really try to have a better city after the Games," he said.
"You have to build permanent venues that have a clear future use, so the city can profit both during and after the Games."
Athens' former Olympic venues now host a wide range of domestic and international events, including sports matches, forums, concerts and exhibitions, he said.
Psilianos said Beijing should also seek to retain the venues' Olympic appeal.
"The Bird's Nest, for example, is a unique stadium in the history of the Olympics. Many people will want to visit it in the future and it will become a new tourist attraction for Beijing," he said.
But hosting the Olympics should not be viewed solely from a financial point of view, he said. "You can invest in other ways if you want a quick profit," he said. "Because of the size and financial strength of China, I believe it can sustain permanent installations throughout all of its territory."
