Members of China's top advisory body vowed Thursday their full support for Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games and voiced their opposition to interference in the independent Olympic movement for political reasons.
"We all support the stand of the Chinese government on this issue," said Zhang Faqiang, on behalf of the CPPCC Subcommittee of Science, Education, Culture, Public Health and Sports.
The Chinese people have a deep understanding of the Olympic spirit and have made important contributions to the development of the Olympic movement, Zhang said at the second plenary meeting of the 4th Session of the 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in session in Beijing since March 3.
"The ideal and spirit of the Olympic movement would spread more extensively and be further carried forward if the 2008 Games is held in China where the population accounts for one-fifth of the world's total and where there are more than 400 million young people," the CPPCC member said.
As an ancient oriental city that has witnessed rapid economic development, Beijing has the necessary conditions and ability to host the Games, with its first-rate telecommunications, transport, catering, tourism and sports facilities, he said.
He said the CPPCC members are firmly opposed to interference in the independence of the Olympic movement and in Beijing's bid to host the Games for "political reasons."
(Xinhua 03/08/2001)
