The Beijing Organizing Committee of the
2008 Olympic
Games (BOCOG) was established Thursday in the Great Hall of the
People with a seven-year-long list of things to do.
"From now on, BOCOG will realize its potential in holding the most
brilliant Olympics in history, with support from the people,
national government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC),"
Beijing Mayor Liu Qi said in front of more than 300 guests,
including sports stars, government officials and IOC envoys.
Beijing learned five months ago that it landed its long-sought wish
to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
Liu was announced the BOCOG president while Yuan Weimin, president
of the Chinese Olympic Committee, was appointed its executive
president.
Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, who delivered an inspiring speech during
Beijing's presentation in Moscow, led a group of central government
officials to the ceremony.
Jacques Rogge, a Belgian and the new IOC boss, sent his
congratulations to BOCOG.
"The People's Republic of China has played host to several
international sports competitions at all levels and will now, for
the first time in its history, organize the Olympic Games," Rogge
said. "There is no doubt over the organizational capacity of
China."
In
his address, Rogge pledged full support from the IOC, which will
set up its co-ordinating committee in Beijing in early next
year.
"The IOC will provide full co-operation and assistance to the
newly-founded Organizing Committee to ensure the success of the
2008 Games," Rogge said.
It
will be a welcome helping hand for Liu, who said the Games will be
run in an open manner.
"We are trying to learn from other countries that achieved success
in hosting the Olympics on aspects like marketing, management,
venue instructions, fund raising, service and intellectual
protection," he said. "We will exert ourselves to profit from the
Olympics."
He
said he was expecting an all-out Games that could benefit all
Chinese people.
"I
wish to see rapid development so that the whole nation could
benefit from the Olympics."
Priority will be given to the different venues, including at least
37 stadiums and gymnasiums and another 58 for training by the year
2008.
Simon Balderstone, an IOC envoy who assessed Beijing when he served
as an IOC evaluation commissioner, said he believed BOCOG would
succeed.
"Although there are challenges, such as the environment, Beijing
will deliver its best," he said.
An
independent auditing body also will be established to audit the
financial records of the organizing committee," Liu said.
(China
Daily December 14, 2001)