French journalist Caroline Puel wants to present the real China to her readers, who are eager to know more about the country with the Beijing Olympic Games just eight months away.

"Most of the time, when you speak about China in France, people think about the ancient culture, the history and traditions, not much about the China (as it is) today," Puel said on Friday. "My job is to present modern China to my readers."

Puel is Asia bureau chief of Le Point, a weekly French magazine, and has been in China for 20 years. The fluent Putonghua-speaker was one of the international journalists and diplomats who shared their experiences at a reception held by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) on Friday.

China's best gymnasts performed a male vocal quintet and the national synchronized swimming team gave a group dance recital, enthralling journalists from 63 news agencies and diplomats from more than 85 countries.

"Sports is the last thing we want to cover (about the Beijing Games). Instead, we are more interested in the kind of sports common people are doing with," Puel said.

Even for China, the Olympic Games is more than a sports event. It's a window to show the world the modern image of the country.

"Beijing is the third city in Asia to host the Games (Tokyo and Seoul hosted it before), and people in Japan will be very happy to see China host a successful Games," said Fumihiro Kawakami, counselor of the Japanese embassy.

Most of the international journalists want to cover how Chinese sportspersons are preparing for the Games, the construction of the Olympic venues, and transport and tourist facilities, said Gregorio Laso, press and information counselor of the Spanish embassy.

China has pledged to intensify efforts to facilitate reporting on the Olympic Games.

A new rule published early this year made reporting for foreign journalists a lot easier. And in July, BOCOG began a one-stop media service to help international journalists get Olympics-related interviews.

(China Daily December 8, 2007)