Beijing Olympic organizers said in Beijing Thursday that they would speed up the Olympic construction work and complete the basic structure of major projects by 2006.

"Our emphasis will be on the new venues, and the basic structure of them as well as the Olympic village, media village and National Conference Center will be completed by this year," Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics (BOCOG), said Thursday morning in a presentation to the 118th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Liu said the construction of the 14 new Olympic stadiums has all started and other major projects including the Olympic park have been getting under way smoothly.

Meanwhile, four rail lines in a total length of 115km and 22 roads connecting with the Olympic area have started construction in full scale, Liu said.

The BOCOG has announced previously that they would complete most of the constructions in 2007 and make sure the venues are in position for the testing events.

To gain more experience and test the completed venues, Liu said China will host a number of testing events including the World Softball Championships and the International Sailing Regetta this year.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will start in 911 days.

(Xinhua News Agency Feb. 10, 2006)