All new venues for the 2008 Olympics, including the national conference centre, the athletes' village and the press village, would be under construction by the end of the year, Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan told the Beijing People's Political Consultative Congress.

'We will speed up the construction of roads and municipal facilities surrounding the venues and then start work on scenic projects ... in the central area of the Olympic park,' he said. The park will be home to the national stadium and the national swimming centre.

Other works - such as renovations to and expansions of dozens of older facilities, like the Workers' Stadium and the Workers' Gymnasium - will also be launched this year.