Chief among the attendees is Jacquez Roggue, the new president of the International Olympic Committee, who flew into Beijing on Monday to witness Beijing's hosting of the international multi-sports event, which he described as a very important competition.

George Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation, which runs the Universiade, said he could find no fault with China's hosting of the event.

As the Universiade, also known as the World University Games, draws near its end, delegates have been increasingly turning to shopping, travelling and feasting as a way to pass the time.

Many have had to buy larger suitcases to carry their tourist goods from Xiushui and Wangfujing streets and Beijing's various supermarkets.

"I have bought everything - six qipaos (mandarin gowns), four pairs of shoes, four velvet pandas, two Chinese jackets and lots of scarves and souvenirs. They are so cheap," confessed Willien Fourie, a sports official with the 21st Universiade South African squad.

Almost all of the delegates interviewed said they had been to Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace in Beijing.

And many of them have plans to travel to other parts of China when the Games end.

"I'm going to Tibet," said Calino Arena from Spain. "I have been dreaming about my China tour for the last three months."

The famous Donglaishun Hotpot and Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurants have done a brisk business this week, with long queues of delegates waiting for meals.

But the busiest people in Beijing these days may be the laundry assistants at the Universiade Village.

The athletes, after a day's shopping and travelling, usually end up with a large bag of dirty clothes they drop off at the laundry after 8pm. They inevitably leave a sock or two in the auto washing machines, leaving the assistants searching for missing owners.

(China Daily 08/31/2001)