International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors held a seminar yesterday in Beijing, offering the 2008 Beijing Games organizers advice on hosting the world's largest sporting event.

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympics, and IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli spoke about the roles and responsibilities of the government in hosting the Games. They also discussed important operational issues such as transportation, infrastructure and security.

 

Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee--known as BOCOG--thanked the IOC officials for their candid advice and for sharing their experiences of past Games.

 

"Your lectures enlightened us on the special requirements of hosting the Olympics and (will) also help us improve our future preparations," Liu said.

 

Earlier, BOCOG's Executive Vice President Liu Jingmin briefed the IOC officials on Beijing's latest preparations for the 2008 Summer Games and the key tasks scheduled for this year.

 

"Beijing has entered the second phase of its preparations for the 2008 Games," he said.

 

"The 2004 to 2006 period will be the time for full-scale preparations."

 

On Monday, Verbruggen spoke highly of the city's venue construction work after an inspection tour of the National Stadium and the National Swimming Center, two major venues for the event.

 

The Chinese capital has promised to finish construction of its sports facilities in time for test events to be held in 2007.

 

(China Daily February 25, 2004)