Beijing Olympics have wide support
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-12 14:02

BEIJING -- It is only a very few anti-China individuals and groups with bias against China who want to politicize the Beijing Olympics, and they cannot represent the international community, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing on Wednesday.

"These people could never get their way. Those who want to tarnish the image of China ... would only have their own images tarnished," said Yang at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.

Those anti-China forces will be opposed by both Chinese people and the international community, he said.

Non-politicization has been provided for in the Olympic Charter, and their political attacks are in violation of the Charter's principles, Yang said, adding that leaders and people from many countries have shown their support to China.

China is willing to discuss with the world and people from all walks of life to make the Beijing Olympic Games a success. "We welcome suggestion and criticism out of good will," he said.

Foreign governments and dignitaries have shown support for the Chinese stance. More than 100 state or government leaders across the world have expressed willingness to attend the Beijing Olympics in August.

"The figure is still on the rise everyday," a senior diplomat said.

As the honorary president of the US delegation for the Olympic Games, US President George Bush called the Games a world sports festival and said that he opposed politicizing the event and expected a complete success for the Games.

More Chances for World Records

China dismissed few foreign athletes' worries about Beijing's pollution on Wednesday, saying that they will have more chances of breaking world records in the August Olympics.

"Most athletes who are coming to Beijing are satisfied with and have full confidence in the air quality, environment and sports facilities," Yang said.

Yang said that many athletes have broken world records in China, especially in Beijing, suggesting that it is unnecessary for athletes to worry about the air quality in Beijing.

"If they (foreign athletes) cannot break world records in other places, maybe they can come to Beijing, where they will have a better luck," he said.

"I believe the air quality in Beijing will only become better and better," he added.

A high-ranking environment official said Tuesday that China is able to ensure good air quality during the Olympic Games, fulfilling its commitment made seven years ago for the Olympic bid.

Chinese environment authorities are keeping a close watch over major pollution indices everyday, including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matters, said Zhang Lijun, deputy head of the State Environmental Protection Administration.

"Three indices have met national standards due to years of efforts, and we promise the index of particulate matters will also meet standards during the Olympics," he told reporters on the sidelines of the annual session of parliament.

Beijing has put 120 billion yuan ($16.9 billion) in improving air quality in the past years, and the number of "blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality, increased to 246 last year from 100 in 1998, he said.

Meanwhile, Beijing's neighboring municipality Tianjin, the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are lending a hand to the capital to attain anti-pollution goals, Zhang said.

Work in these areas includes closing major polluters, removing outmoded cabs and reconditioning gas stations to capture harmful chemicals.

British Justice Secretary Jack Straw said that Britain did not agree on linking the Olympics with the Darfur issue. The issue was the excuse at which Hollywood director Steven Spielberg's made a high-profile withdrawal as artistic consultant of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).