The Beijing Olympics would bring 20 billion yuan (about US$2.7 billion) of business volume to the country's catering industry, according to a report released by China Cuisine Association (CCA).

"The Olympics would provide an unprecedented opportunity to the catering business in Beijing, which normally stands at 24 billion yuan a year," said Bian Jiang, CCA spokesman.

During the Games next year, China will receive some 280,000 athletes, referees and news reporters and other work staff from more than 200 countries and regions, according to statistics with the BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the Olympiad).

The report said these people would enjoy diversified and high- quality catering services. "Oriental food," said Bian, "such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean food, would take up 30 percent of the total dishes, a substantial increase from previous ten to 20 percent."

Besides, about five million overseas tourists and more than 120 million domestic travelers will visit Beijing in 2008 and seven million spectators will watch the games on spot, according to official statistics.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2007)