The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held two weeks later than originally planned because of weather concerns.

The games were scheduled for July 25 to Aug. 10. The International Olympic Committee executive board on Sunday agreed to move the dates to Aug. 8-24 at Beijing's request.

The change should mean better weather conditions with less heat and humidity and a decreased risk for thunderstorms, IOC sports director Gilbert Felli said.

Beijing had asked for the dates to be changed to avoid the height of the Beijing summer, when temperatures typically reach 100 degrees.

Beijing organizers expressed welcome to the IOC decision.

"It is better to move back the games two weeks," said Wang Wei, vice president of Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee.

"But from our point of view it would be much better if the Games could be moved back one more week," he added.

"(After the dates change) the conditions will be much better in terms of heat and humidity," Wang said.

(People's Daily June 30, 2003)