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| IOC President impressed by Beijing Olympic venues |
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(BEIJING, Oct. 24) -- The Beijing Olympic venues are "the best I have ever seen," IOC
President Jacques Rogge made the remarks following an inspection tour to the venues
Tuesday morning.
He said the venues are beautiful and that he was deeply impressed.
Accompanied by President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG) Liu Qi, Rogge visited the National Stadium, known as Bird's Nest, and
the National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube.
At the Olympic venue exhibition center, Rogge was updated on the progress of the
on-going construction of Olympic projects.
Construction for 26 of the 31 Beijing-based competition venues is in significant
progress. Amongst the others, 12 new venues have been completed, renovation of nine out
of the 11 existing venues is under way, and five of the eight temporary venues are
currently under construction.
So far, Fengtai Softball Field, venue for Olympic softball, had been built and became the
first to be put into use in August 2006 when the ISF Women's World Championship took
place.
Having learnt that the construction run smoothly, Rogge showed happiness, saying that
these venues will leave a great legacy for the city after the Olympics.
Walking into the construction site of the National Stadium, Rogge shook hands with
personnel working for the project. The National Stadium is the main stadium of the 29th
Olympic Games.
Being told that the steel structural trusses of the stadium were successfully uninstalled
on Sept. 17, 2006 to let the stadium carry its own weight, and that all the steel
structures, including the substructures, will be completed by the end of November, he
said to Liu Qi "Very good! Congratulations!"
Walking inside, Rogge marveled at the view of the interior and said the 91,000-seat
stadium appears more spectacular and beautiful.
He said the stadium is of quite innovative harmonious design and will become an
attracting spot of the city.
At the Water Cube, Rogge told Liu that the center is splendid and that he is looking
forward to the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 8, 2008.
Also joining the tour were Liu Jingmin, vice mayor of Beijing and BOCOG executive
vice-president; Yu Zaiqing, vice minister of State General Administration of Sport
(SGAS), IOC Executive Board member and BOCOG executive vice-president; He Zhenliang,
IOC member and honorary president of Chinese Olympic Committee; and Hein Verbruggen,
chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
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