Beijing is expected to publish its final operating budget for the August Olympic Games in May, with the cost likely below those of Athens Games four years ago, according to senior official of BOCOG.

"The marketing campaign has come to a close, and the outlay of more than US$ 2 billion on the Games operation has been guaranteed basically," said Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of BOCOG, last month.

It's been widely suspected, however, that the marketing operation could totally cover the costs of its bid for the 2008 Olympics, which means Beijing would not take a penny from the taxpayers to raise the Games.

Since BOCOG launched the marketing program for the 2008 Games in 2003, more than 60 international and domestic corporations have taken part in the world's biggest sports festival in the globe's fastest growing market, while the Chinese IT giant Lenovo made history to join the 12-member TOP.

The recruitment of volunteers also came out a workpiece with all the earmarks of Chinese characteristics, as the organizers were given a wide range of choices on the base of a big population.

BOCOG said earlier this month that 1.126 million applications, including 22,000 from foreigners, had been received since last August when the application period opened, while only 100,000 volunteers are needed.

About 70,000 for the Olympics and about 30,000 for the Paralympics will serve as volunteers, both exceeding the figures from the Athens Olympics, which had held the record for applicants and volunteers.

The application period ended on March 31.

About 160,000 volunteer applications were received before the 2004 Athens Olympics and 60,000 people were chosen.