Preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games are a hot topic at
gatherings of Beijing's legislature and political advisory
body.
The city's two senior officials, Mayor Wang Qishan and Communist Party Secretary Liu Qi, recently shared their hopes for the
Games.
Wang spoke of his one main concern. "If a rainstorm hits Beijing
at around 8?PM on August 8 next year, when the opening
ceremony starts, I will not be able to do anything about it," he
said.
The mayor said officials in the capital were researching the
weather on that date during the past 15 years, and had invited
experts to work out contingency plans to deal with a storm.
Still, Wang said he was confident that the Games would be a
success.
"I am fully confident that Beijing can host an outstanding
Olympics thanks to a nationwide effort and input from all sides,"
Wang said on Saturday during the ongoing Fifth Session of the 10th
Beijing Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference.
"Beijing's biggest advantage lies in its amazing organizing
power and its citizens' willingness to cooperate with the
government during special occasions," he said.
Wang became mayor in April 2003. He has a reputation for
resourcefulness based on his smooth handling of the SARS
aftermath.
"I have faith in the conscientiousness of the people of Beijing.
They are the real hosts of the Games," he said.
The mayor said his confidence was based on the people's response
to SARS and last year's Sino-African Summit, when more than 40
heads of state and government visited Beijing in November.
He also asked the public to prepare for the event. "More than
20,000 unregistered reporters and 10,000 registered ones are
coming, and they are going to cover every detail of Beijing in
their articles," he said. "We have to have a good Olympics,
otherwise not only will our generation lose face, but also our
ancestors."
Meanwhile, Liu Qi said the city would audit all Olympics-related
projects to ensure a corruption-free Games.
"The Games will be supervised to make sure the event is
transparent and open," said Liu, who is also president of BOCOG, at
the ongoing Fifth Session of the 12th Beijing Municipal People's
Congress.
He said that in addition to ensuring a high standard of work,
his office would investigate officials' lifestyles, stating that
"officials must not be dissipated by frivolous pleasures, and
should not visit entertainment venues after work."
Last year prosecutors launched criminal proceedings against
former Beijing vice-mayor Liu Zhihua, who was suspected of taking
millions of yuan in bribes.?He had been in charge of building
Olympics venues.
Liu Qi also urged friendliness during the Games, saying the city
would continue to cultivate courtesy and civilized behavior among
residents, and improve order in public places.
(China Daily January 29, 2007)