Beijing plans to use geothermal resources to heat, bathe and refrigerate the Olympic Garden, one of the main venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Tuesday's China Daily reported.

Two 3,500-meter-deep geothermal exploratory wells will be dug this month in the eastern part of the Olympic Garden. Local government plans to spend 163 million yuan (19.6 million US dollars) in the project, which will conclude in 2006 and heat 400,000 square meters at stadiums and gymnasiums.

By 2008, 160 geothermal wells will be completed in the city, according to the Sub-plan on Energy Development and Energy Mix Readjusting of Beijing Games' Action Plan drawn up in September.

At present, Beijing has 10 geothermal hot spots where water can reach over 50 degrees centigrade, local sources said.

Experts have advised that various measures be adopted to avoid any possible negative impact from geothermal energy exploitation on the environment.

In addition to geothermal energy, natural gas, electricity, solar energy, wind power and biomass energy will also be used for the Games, according to the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 2008 Games.

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