Though thinking Beijing will face many challenges to organize an Olympiad, Jacques Rogge, newly-elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), expressed his full confidence that the Chinese capital will put on a successful Games in 2008.
"There is no major challenge but thousands of challenges for a country to organize the Games," said Rogge."The organization of the Olympic Games is very difficult to exercise, but we are fully confident you will succeed.
"We look forward to a superb Games in Beijing," said Rogge upon his arrival at the airport in Beijing on Monday morning.
Rogge was elected IOC president at the 112th IOC session in Moscow on July 16, three days after Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games.
Beijing Mayor Liu Qi extended warm welcome to the president, who will stay in China for two days to have meetings with the Chinese Olympic Committee officials and inspect sports venues and athlete' s village at the ongoing 21st Summer Universiade.
"I believe that your short but very important visit here will help Beijing's preparation for the Olympic Games, and further promote the development of the Olympic movement in China, "said Liu.
When questioned on what advice he would offer to the future organizers of the Olympiad, Rogge said it is still a bit too early to give the recommendation.
"I visit here first of all to listen and hear the proposal of the Chinese friends," he said."Of course there will be meetings today and tomorrow and there will be discussions. I will be able to do this before I leave."
Since he took the position of IOC presidency in Moscow, Rogge said that he has been busy with attending many world championships so that he failed to attend the opening ceremony of the Universiade last week.
"It is a matter of schedule," the 59-year-old Belgian surgeon explained to reporters on why he came here at this moment. "I was elected on July 16, it is a month of the world championships and Olympic sports."
He said he had been to the world judo championships in Munich, then the world swimming championships in Japan and the world athletics championships in Edmonton, Canada, before paying a visit to the Salt Lake city, the host of the 2002 Winter Olympiad.
"Yesterday I was at rowing championship, and today I am here in Beijing," said Rogge.
(Chinadaily.com.cn 08/27/2001)
