Punch Gunalan, first vice-president of Badminton World Federation (BWF), on Friday described the Beijing University of Technology (But) Gymnasium as "the best venue I have ever seen at the previous Olympics".

The BUT Gymnasium, where the 2007 International Badminton Invitational Tournament is being held from October 10 to 14, is the only Olympic venue located in southeast Beijing. It will serve as the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics venue for the next year's Olympics.

"It's nearly perfect and the best venue I have ever seen. All the venues for the previous Olympics were temporarily modified and had problems more or less, but this venue was specially designed according to the characteristics of badminton," Gunalan said.

Besides, Gunalan was also satisfied with the organization of this tournament, "I inspected the venue three weeks before the opening of the competition at the Athens Olympics, but it was not fully ready. However, this venue in Beijing has been put to use within one year away from the opening of the Olympics. It is really the first time in Olympic history."

However, Malaysia also put forward some improvements needed to be made before next year's Olympics. "Next year, many journalists will come here to cover the badminton while the press conference and the media center are obviously not spacious enough. But there is still time and we may say that Beijing has made a good start."

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2007)