Overseers of all major competitive events are chosen.

Scenarios for both the opening and closing ceremonies are done.

Except for the ultra-modern main stadium, which needs special modification for the opening ceremony, all Games venues will be completed by year's end.

In the meantime, food safety and traffic control programs are already on the drawing board.

Preparations for the 2008 summer Olympics appear exceptionally well today as Beijing marks the one-year countdown to the world's most celebrated sporting fiesta.

Given the city's and the country's growing financial prowess, and the exceptional rallying power of the widely shared Olympic dream in this country, there is little doubt about Beijing's capabilities for delivering what it promised to the International Olympics Committee. The city is actually investing more than is necessary for the Games.

In addition to brand-new Games venues, the city is managing an all-round facelift to match its coveted image as an international metropolis. Roads are being widened or repaved. Old buildings are being whitewashed. New gardens are being added at street corners.

With a full year to go before the big day, the Games' organizers and urban planners have enough time to do the cosmetics. But a successful Olympics entails more than all that.

The recent downpours in Beijing are an embarrassing warning against blind optimism about the city's contingency plans.

For one thing, the city's underground drainage system turned out to be disappointingly inadequate. So was the authorities' response. Deep pools emerged at major crossroads and flyovers on the city's major roads, literally cutting off traffic for long hours. Without major operations on the current network, there is no guarantee such incidents will not be repeated next summer.

We share the organizing authorities' concern about Beijing residents' manner problems. A more pressing imperative, however, is to upgrade the municipal authorities' competence for coordinating the sometimes-conflicting needs of the Games and normal local life.

For instance, it is easy to impose strict traffic control schemes. But it takes a lot more deliberation if convenience and satisfaction of all parties is taken into consideration.

One year may be more than enough for the construction part, but barely enough for the rest.

And the latter will prove to be equally, if not more, important.

Good luck Beijing.

(China Daily 08/08/2007 page10)