Beijing, February 17, 2008 -- As learned from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, over ninety percent of the barrier-free facilities in large-scale and medium-sized shopping centers and supermarkets at downtown areas or near the Olympic venues will be renovated ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing Daily reported.

At least eight kinds of barrier-free accesses should be renovated in those commercial areas, including wheelchair ramp, barrier-free elevator, barrier-free lavatory, directional signing, parking lots, indoor dypass, barrier-free toll-booth and information desk.

Last year, with the help of professional investigation for building's accessibility on more than thirty Olympic venues and eight major commercial streets, thirty-one ramps, forty lavatories, sixteen elevators were renovated and accessibility environment of these areas was greatly improved, according the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

In 2008, barrier-free renovation will be continued especially at shopping centers and supermarkets nearby Olympic venues or at the downtown streets. And the accessibility of the new facilities will be checked out by barrier-free professionals.

In addition, more shopping sites will be quipped with permanent and temperate special facilities, offering much more convenience to the people with a disability during Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.