BEIJING, 2 November 2004 — International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge said yesterday he had “no concerns whatsoever” about Beijing’s planning of the 2008 Games and was confident it would do a good job.
“We are confident. We are vigilant. We support the organizing committee and we are happy. No concerns whatsoever,” Rogge told a news briefing during an inspection visit.
Rogge said that while the facilities had not been built, the preparatory work was on schedule. “The Beijing Games will go extremely well.”
Rogge and IOC officials, who arrived in Beijing last week, toured sites where Olympic facilities will be built. The visit marked the half-way point from when the city won the bid to host the Games to when it will be held.
“We are now halfway ... This is always a crucial period. We have to move from pure planning to the operation mode,” Rogge said, pointing to 2000 host Sydney as a city that made a smooth switch. “We know our Chinese friends will succeed in this transition too.”
Given China’s record medal haul at the Athens Olympics and outstanding performances by other Asian nations such as Japan, Rogge said the 2008 Olympics would see Asian nations shine even brighter.
“We are at the turning point in Olympic history, a point at which the classical domination of the United States and Europe will be seriously challenged by Asia,” he said.
In a meeting with Rogge yesterday, President Hu Jintao vowed to ensure the 2008 Games will be a success. “The Chinese government pays great attention to the preparatory work for the 2008 Olympics ... and will make the 2008 Olympics an Olympic Games of high standards,” Hu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying. Rogge said he was encouraged by his inspection of sites. He said the Olympic Green area was very compact, an advantage in moving athletes from one place to another.
The area was also easily accessible by public transport. The IOC in August advised Beijing not to finish the facilities too early to avoid high maintenance costs. It pointed out then that the venues looked likely to be completed 20 months before the Games.
