Organizers said on Tuesday that they will accumulate experience for the 2008 Olympic Games by successfully holding the 2006 World Youth Athletics Championships.

"We have tried our best to reach the Olympic standards in preparing the biggest IAAF tournament ever held in China though the budget is mainly from the government, "Zhang Jiandong, vice president of the organizing committee, said at a news briefing.

"The youth championships has been regarded as a rehearsal of the Beijing Games, at least on the athletics competition, so we'll make every effort to make it a success," he said.

The World Youth Athletics Championships will be held from August 15-20, featuring about 2,000 athletes from over 160 countries and regions who will compete in 40 sports.

According to the organizers, the IAAF president Lamine Diack had met Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics (BOCOG), and IAAF officials had inspected the preparations for the tournament, putting forward requirements on venues, reception, management, transport, security and media service.

About 30 people from the BOCOG have joined the working staff of the youth championships. The personnel also includes officials from the Beijing municipal government and the state sports governing body.

Although the tournament is financed through various channels, the Beijing municipal government will make up any deficit in the budget.

"Marketing is part of our financial sources, but just a small part. And government fund is what we really count on, so don't worry about money," Zhang said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)