Cypriot President Demetris Christofias has voiced his belief that the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games will be the best in modern times, with its unique Chinese colors and full preparation.
Christofias made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua, prior to his scheduled attendance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 8.
"I have no doubt whatsoever that China, a country distinguished by its incomparable culture and history, is fully prepared to host the greatest sports gathering in the world in the last four year period," said the president.
Christofias added that the Olympic facilities which had been completed constitute a "resounding proof" of Beijing's good preparation for the Olympic Games.
He said he was very sad to watch the few misdeeds which took place during the Beijing Olympic torch relay in certain western countries.
The Olympic Games, the president said, from the ancient times when they were held at Olympia to the present, have always been "a supreme call on all the races of the earth for truce, peace and fraternization."
"Civilized mankind has a duty to uphold, keep alive and spread this time-honored ideal and relay the torch of the Olympic ideal to future generations," Christofias said.
He noted that political expediencies cannot and should not be allowed to interfere with the Olympic Games, as "this is a direct contradiction of the lofty aims of the fathers and visualizers of the modern Olympic Games."
"The Olympic Games lend themselves for noble competition among the nations and not for political exploitation of any kind," he added.
"Of course the best reply to all those who attempted to smear China's great effort to host the Olympic Games will come at the end of the Games," said Christofias. "I am convinced that the Beijing Olympic Games will be the best in modern times."
The Cypriot president reiterated his belief that "the Olympiad with the Chinese colors and the Chinese seal will impress and amaze all the audience with its brilliance, ingenuity and excellence."
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)