The Chinese Olympic Committee (
COC)
has expressed its vow that it will work closely together with the
Olympic family and build on the experience of previous host cities
to ensure a successful games in 2008.
Yuan Weimin, COC president and also executive president of the
Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), told
the ongoing 113th session of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) on Monday that the Chinese sports community will play its
part in a united effort to prepare for the Games.
"The Chinese Olympic Committee and all national sports associations
will work hand in hand with the BOCOG, under the guidance of the
IOC executive board and the IOC's Coordination Commission for the
2008 Olympic
Games, and in cooperation with the international individual
sports federations and national Olympic committees," said Yuan.
To
set the best stage for all Olympians, he said that the COC will
embrace the experience of previous host cities and conduct close
consultations with international sports federations in such areas
as venue construction and competition scheduling.
He
also outlined what the Chinese will achieve in the world of sports
over the next seven years under the inspiration of being chosen to
host the 2008 Games.
He
said that China will broadly implement its Olympic education and
cultural program while improving the health and fitness of all
Chinese people.
"Young people are encouraged to participate more in a diversity of
Olympic activities to promote the Olympic ideal and the Olympic
spirit. And athletes will be encouraged to take part in all the
sports of the 2008 Games.
"The Chinese Olympic Committee will perform its duties and fulfill
its obligations, as entrusted by the Olympic Charter, to assist and
supervise the BOCOG in its preparations for the 2008 Olympic
Games," said Yuan.
The Beijing organizers made their first official appearance before
all members of the IOC on Monday, reconfirming their commitment to
deliver the best games ever in 2008.
Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, said that soon after the Chinese
capital was chosen to host the 2008 Olympic Games, they started
thinking about how they could best fulfill their promise to stage a
great games in Beijing.
"To host an excellent games, we will give tangible form to the
three themes: a Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People's
Olympics," said Liu, also the mayor of Beijing.
Under the themes, Beijing will put emphasis on environmental
protection in preparing for and hosting the Games, will make use of
the most sophisticated technologies in the organization of the
Games and will put on an athlete-orientated Games with a strong
flavor of Chinese culture.
While providing the best conditions for the Olympic family, Liu
said that Beijing also attaches great importance to the post-games
usage of Olympic facilities and financial prudence in venue
construction and the operation of the Games.
He
said that Beijing organizing committee has started working with the
IOC to develop the Master Plan, which will detail numerous tasks
the organizers are expected to complete during the seven-year
buildup to the Games.
And at the same time, Beijing municipality is touching up the
Olympic Action Plan which covers eight major themes including venue
construction, environmental protection, culture, and public
security, said Liu.
The IOC praised Beijing organizers on Monday for their pace of
preparation.
"I'd like to thank you sincerely for the speed with which you have
established the organizing committee. This is absolutely comforting
for the IOC," said IOC President Jacques Rogge.
He
made the remarks after the BOCOG finished its presentation to the
113th IOC session which is under way in Salt Lake City in the
United States.
Rogge continued that past experience has shown that when time is
lost by the organizing committee, it is always in the beginning of
the preparations for the Games.
"That seems not to be the case with you," he said. "We will be on
your side, and we look forward to excellent cooperation."
Hein Verbruggen, who had just found out that 2002 is the Year of
Horse on the Chinese lunar calendar, said that since Beijing was
chosen for the Games last July, its preparation for the Games has
been going on "at a galloping pace."
"Indeed, Beijing has not lost time," said the chairman of the IOC's
Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympic Games.
(China
Daily February 6, 2002)