A top inspector from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Monday that Beijing has done a "perfect" job in constructing venues for the 2008 Olympic Games.??

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Games, said he was extremely pleased with the speed with which construction had progressed.

 

Verbruggen made the remarks after an inspection tour of the construction site of the National Stadium and the National Swimming Center, two major venues for the 2008 Games, in north Beijing.

 

Beijing began construction of the two sites in December, and also broke ground for the shooting range and cycling velodrome.

 

The Chinese capital has promised to finish building its sports facilities for the 2008 Games at least a year ahead of time so that test events may be held during 2007.

 

Verbruggen, who is here on a three-day inspection of Beijing's progress in preparing for the Games, said he was confident that Beijing would achieve its goal of finishing construction by the end of 2006.

 

He went on to point out that such an early completion date would probably set a new Olympic record.

 

The IOC inspection team, which also includes the IOC Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli, is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics (BOCOG) on Tuesday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2004)