Their Olympic Games have been hailed as "the greatest ever" but also the costliest. The event was the most expensive games in history with a total of $40.9 billion spent between 2001 and 2007 on infrastructure, energy, transportation and water supply projects.

The Beijing Olympic Village – a complex of high rise apartments – was born because of it. Also some venues will be owned and governed by the State General Administration of Sports, which will use them for all future national sports teams and events.