The
2008 Beijing Olympic Games will offer a great
legacy for China, Jacques Rogge, the president of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC), said yesterday on the eve of the one-year
countdown to the world's greatest sporting event.
"Bringing Olympic values to one-fifth of the world's population
is arguably one of the most exciting projects in Olympic history,"
he told guests at the opening ceremony of the first seminar of the
Chefs de Mission for the 2008 Summer Games.
"The preparations for Beijing 2008 are truly impressive in every
regard," added Rogge.
"I am confident that the dedication of the Beijing Organizing
Committee (BOCOG) and the Chinese Government these past six years
has laid a solid foundation for a spectacular Summer Olympic
Games."
Heavy rains and cloudy skies marked Rogge's visit to the Chinese
capital. The president said that he has confidence in Beijing's
environment during the Games and praised the "fantastic job" of
BOCOG.
"Here, let me tell you that BOCOG has done a fantastic job: from
'greening' initiatives whereby Olympic-related building projects
will include 40-50 percent green space, to recycling programs," he
said.
"There is no question that programs driven by the Games in areas
related to the environment are building excellent-practice examples
not just for today but for future generations in China."
Noting that there will be some contingency plans while the Games
will be in progress Rogge said: "It is important to stress that our
Chinese colleagues are doing their utmost to deal with this
challenge. We are very hopeful the matter will be tackled
effectively."
BOCOG President Liu Qi stressed that BOCOG will follow three
principles in the Olympic services provisions, including abiding by
IOC rules and international practice, adopting a unified standard
in the treatment of all foreign guests.
"We want all the guests to feel at home during the Beijing
Games," Liu said.
According to Olympic practice, the seminar is held one year
before the Olympic Games. It's goal is to brief all the delegations
on the progress of the preparatory work for the Olympics.
(China Daily August 8, 2007)
