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| International Olympic Committee (IOC) President
Jacques Rogge visits the construction site of Beijing Olympic
venues, October 30, 2004. He spoke highly of Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.
(newsphoto) |
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge spoke
highly on October 30 of Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games after having
an inspection tour of venues for the Games.
Rogge, who arrived in the Chinese capital Saturday
morning, in the afternoon visited the construction sites of the National
Stadium, the main Olympic stadium which resembles
a bird's nest in shape, and the National
Swimming Center.
"I'm pleased with what I have seen. The venues
will leave a great legacy
for Beijing and China," said Rogge.
"Still, of course, there's a lot to be done.
"But we still have another four years now. We're quite sure that the
games will be absolutely excellent," added the IOC chief.
In order to save costs and fine-tune the design, Beijing halted the
construction work on several Olympic venues, including the center-piece
National Stadium, in August amid a nationwide drive to cut down on "white
elephant" projects.
The city, which plans to spend about 37 billion US
dollars on the Games, is also mulling
to adjust the location of five venues planned for
the Games.
According to Gilbert Felli, IOC's Olympic Games Executive Director,
concerned sports are softball, baseball, hockey, beach volleyball and
tennis.
BOCOG wants to move the venues for above five sports but tennis closer
to the Olympic Green, which is planned to be located in the north part of
the city.
Rogge said it would be convenient for both athletes and spectators if
venues are to built within the Olympic Green.
"Everything is very close to each other. I think it's very good for the
organization of the Games ... easy access for the athletes," he said.
Along with a group of IOC officials including Hein Verbruggen,
president of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympics,
Rogge also watched a promotion film about the history, present and future
of the Chinese capital.
Rogge, who is on his third visit to Beijing, is
scheduled to open the debriefing
of the Athens Olympics here on Sunday. The debriefing also
serves as the official transfer of knowledge meeting between Athens
organizers and their Beijing counterparts.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge arrived
in Beijing on Saturday morning to start a three-day visit to the host city
of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Rogge, who is on his third visit to the Chinese capital, arrived at the
Capital International Airport at 7:40 a.m. (Beijing time) aboard flight
AF128.
Beijing vice mayor Liu Jingmin held a brief welcome ceremony at the
airport.
Rogge is scheduled to pay an inspection tour of some venues for the
2008 Games Saturday afternoon and hold talks with Chinese President Hu
Jintao.
The IOC chief will open the debriefing of the Athens Olympics on
Sunday. The debriefing also serves as the official transfer of knowledge
meeting between Athens organizers and their Beijing counterparts.
(People's Daily Online) | 
Updated: 2004-11-01 10:50