|
"Give Beijing a chance and we will show you how much more
we can contribute to the Olympic Movement.''
Tu Mingde, secretary-general of Chinese National Olympic Committee,
made this pledge yesterday standing with his colleagues from the
Beijing bid committee before a crush of photographers after the
committee's final press conference.
The five candidate cities faced the media in turn holding separate
press conferences, the last International Olympic Committee (IOC)
authorized media occasion for the candidate cites before this evening's
vote. The press hall was packed when the Beijing delegation -- which
presented fourth behind Osaka, Paris and Toronto -- stepped into
the hall.
After a short film showing both an ancient and highly-developed
modern Beijing, Wang Wei, secretary-general of the Beijing bid committee
started on his speech to convince the world that Beijing is the
best choice to host the Games.
"If Beijing is awarded the 2008 Olympic Games, it will make
history because it will be the first time the Olympics has landed
in a country with a population of 1.3 billion and a history of over
3,000-years,'' said Wang.
With only 30 hours to go before eagerly awaited moment, Wang said
Beijing is ready for the vote.
"We are fully-prepared and confident,'' claimed Wang. He said
the confidence is based on the following:
First, there is all-out support from across the nation. The results
of a poll conducted by the IOC show that over 95 percent of Beijing
citizens support the bid. That is the highest number of the five
candidate cities.
"The Beijing Games will be the people's Games,'' Wang said.
Second, Beijing has won strong governmental support which will help
to ensure the Games are a success.
Third, the 10 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase over
the past decade and the dramatic improvement in the infrastructure
and the environment will enable Beijing to hold a sporting event
like the Olympics.
And last, an encouraging report published in May by the IOC Evaluation
Commission says Beijing is able to host an excellent Games and the
Beijing Games will leave a legacy to China and to sport.
"With open arms, we welcome friends from all over the world,''
Tu Mingde, secretary-general of Chinese National Olympic Committee,
said.
Tu's remarks were echoed by Deng Yaping, a four-time Olympic table
tennis champion: "Please come to Beijing and you will see what
Beijing is and what China is.''
In separate press conferences given by the four other candidate
cities, all the representatives expressed confidence in winning
the bid.
Toronto highlighted their bid by emphasizing their concept of "by
athletes and for athletes'' while Paris stressed the integration
of culture with the Olympic spirit, calling listeners' attention
to the ideal of Le Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French man and one
of the founders of the Modern Olympics.
Osaka and Istanbul both said they accepted the report by the IOC
Evaluation Commission, which seems to put the two cities in an unfavourable
position, though they argued that mis-communication is probably
to blame for the report. They will now make presentations directly
to IOC members. Both cities said they will be able to convince voters
and eventually win the bid.
(China Daily 07/13/2001)
|
