International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on
Saturday spoke highly 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, visited
the construction sites of the National Stadium, the main Olympic
Stadium that 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 US$37 billion 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.
The Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (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.
It will be convenient for both athletes and spectators, Rogge
said, if venues are to be built within the Olympic Green.
"Everything is very close to each other. With easy access for
the athletes, I think it's very good for the organization of the
Games," 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.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2004)
