Global Positioning System, Broadband access networks, optic-fiber transmission network, IN (intelligent networks) on mobile communication and so on, all this has left a deep impression on the visiting international sports officials.

It is the same case with Iubomir Kotleba, the sporting director of the International Basketball Federation, who is on an inspection tour of Beijing, one of the five cities bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games.

He heaped praises Tuesday on Beijing Telecom, the first stop on his tour, saying that he has every reason to see the company offer high-quality services in the future.

"I think Beijing telecom is a leading company not only in China but also in the world. I am confident that all the services provided by the company will be on a very high standard.

"I am sure what I have seen here is very fantastic. The technological progress is so fast. What we see today most probably will not be real things for 2008, but more than sure that China telecom will be providing the best possible services at that time 2008 Olympics will be held," said Kotleba.

The official, who has been in China for many times, did not think he is "throwing the words of flowers" to flatter the host.

"I think whatever the IOC will decide, it will be a very natural choice, due to your population, your technological programs and the weight of China in the world," said Kotleba.

"I don't think if there are any other problems, they should be mentioned first and foremost, because the positives here are much bigger than the negatives," he added.

Kotleba did not utter plenty of flowery words when he was briefed on how Beijing plans to handle the traffic but he stressed that the issue has been annoying the organizers of almost every Olympics.

"Transport is one of the main problems in every big event, and the Olympics is one of the biggest fields you can have so," said the official.

He said that even the highly-acclaimed Sydney Games failed to be free from such traffic glitches.

"The Games was well-organised except the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch was left stranded for about 40 minutes when his bus failed to turn up."

"To be friendly to you, I don't want to be in your shoes for the Olympics. Transport is a very big big, big issue for the Olympics, But I am very confident you can manage it," said Kotleba.

(People's Daily 11/21/2000)