IOC Lavishes Praise on Beijing's Preparations for 2008 Olympics

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 05, 2002

IOC Lavishes Praise on Beijing's Preparations for 2008 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Wednesday lavished praise on the progress Beijing had made in the first year after the Chinese capital was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Wednesday lavished praise on the progress Beijing had made in the first year after the Chinese capital was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games.

"The IOC's Coordination Commission is very impressed by the work done by BOCOG in the first year," Hein Verbruggen, president of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing Olympic, told a press conference here on Wednesday.

The IOC Coordination Commission had its first full meeting with Beijing organizers here from Dec. 2-4, listening to BOCOG's progress report on construction, sport, Olympic village and services, environment, communication, marketing, accommodation and technology.

"I must say that the people we talked to (during the meetings) are knowledgeable and specialize in organization of the Olympic Games," said Verbruggen.

Verbruggen also expressed his satisfaction that Beijing had been receptive to the IOC's suggestions to cut the cost and size of the Games.

"We have found great willingness from BOCOG to accept the principle of less cost and less venue capacity," he said.

Verbruggen said that Beijing would shrink the scale of equestrian course and shooting range and build one baseball stadium instead of the two originally planned in order to "bring back the Games to a less complex total."

The 114th IOC session postponed a vote on trimming modern pentathlon, softball and baseball from the Olympic program until after the 2004 Athens Olympic.

Despite the uncertainty of the program, IOC sports director Gilbert Felli said it would not pose negative impact on the Beijing Olympic.

"I think it's manageable to wait until 2005," said Felli.

As for BOCOG's proposals to change the dates of the 2008 Olympic, Verbruggen said the IOC had asked BOCOG to hand in more detailed report to study this issue.

"We are studying this issue and the IOC executive board will come out with the decision by the end of February," said Verbruggen after the news conference.

BOCOG has suggested that the Games be held late in August rather than at the end of July and beginning of August, citing that is a very hot period in the city.

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