Beijing's preparations for 2008 Olympic Games are well under way and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has no worries about the construction of the venues, said IOC President Jacques Rogge, when asked to comment on the temporary construction suspension of the main venue in Beijing, at a press conference in Athens on August 8.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) delivered a presentation on the preparatory work at a meeting of the IOC executive committee in Athens on August 8. Later, a member of the executive committee of IOC asked whether the ongoing economic macro-controls would affect the venue construction.

IOC has been freed from such worries after our presentation, which tells them that the macro controls would not affect the preparations, said Wang Wei, vice president of BOCOG.

Wang said, macro controls are supposed to guarantee the healthy development of the nation's economy. A proper rate is needed for the economic construction, neither overheated nor lagging. The economic adjustment policies involve the city's infrastructure construction. However, they have nothing to do with the Olympic funds, which come out of the market development for the Olympic Games. Presently the marketing development is running smoothly with good results, and IOC has given positive comments on the achievement.

Wang also pointed out, BOCOG has always adhered to the principle of "thrift Olympics" in terms of the venue construction. For example, on the premise of the basic requirements for meeting the competitions, Beijing will try its best to make use of the existing venues and will use temporary facilities. In addition, the construction will also be combined with the development of the city. When drawing up the five-year development plan for the city, Beijing has fully taken the needs of the games into consideration.

By People's Daily Online