Yuan Weimin, COC president and also executive president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), told the ongoing 113th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday that the Chinese sports community will play its part in a united effort to prepare for the Games.

"The Chinese Olympic Committee and all national sports associations will work hand in hand with the BOCOG, under the guidance of the IOC executive board and the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympic Games, and in cooperation with the international individual sports federations and national Olympic committees," said Yuan.

To set the best stage for all Olympians, he said that the COC will embrace the experience of previous host cities and conduct close consultations with international sports federations in such areas as venue construction and competition scheduling.

He also outlined what the Chinese will achieve in the world of sports over the next seven years under the inspiration of being chosen to host the 2008 Games.

He said that China will broadly implement its Olympic education and cultural program while improving the health and fitness of all Chinese people.

"Young people are encouraged to participate more in a diversity of Olympic activities to promote the Olympic ideal and the Olympic spirit. And athletes will be encouraged to take part in all the sports of the 2008 Games.

"The Chinese Olympic Committee will perform its duties and fulfill its obligations, as entrusted by the Olympic Charter, to assist and supervise the BOCOG in its preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games," said Yuan.

The Beijing organizers made their first official appearance before all members of the IOC on Monday, reconfirming their commitment to deliver the best games ever in 2008.

Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, said that soon after the Chinese capital was chosen to host the 2008 Olympic Games, they started thinking about how they could best fulfill their promise to stage a great games in Beijing.

"To host an excellent games, we will give tangible form to the three themes: a Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People's Olympics," said Liu, also the mayor of Beijing.

Under the themes, Beijing will put emphasis on environmental protection in preparing for and hosting the Games, will make use of the most sophisticated technologies in the organization of the Games and will put on an athlete-orientated Games with a strong flavor of Chinese culture.

While providing the best conditions for the Olympic family, Liu said that Beijing also attaches great importance to the post-games usage of Olympic facilities and financial prudence in venue construction and the operation of the Games.

He said that Beijing organizing committee has started working with the IOC to develop the Master Plan, which will detail numerous tasks the organizers are expected to complete during the seven-year buildup to the Games.

And at the same time, Beijing municipality is touching up the Olympic Action Plan which covers eight major themes including venue construction, environmental protection, culture, and public security, said Liu.

The IOC praised Beijing organizers on Monday for their pace of preparation.

"I'd like to thank you sincerely for the speed with which you have established the organizing committee. This is absolutely comforting for the IOC," said IOC President Jacques Rogge.

He made the remarks after the BOCOG finished its presentation to the 113th IOC session which is under way in Salt Lake City in the United States.

Rogge continued that past experience has shown that when time is lost by the organizing committee, it is always in the beginning of the preparations for the Games.

"That seems not to be the case with you," he said. "We will be on your side, and we look forward to excellent cooperation."

Hein Verbruggen, who had just found out that 2002 is the Year of Horse on the Chinese lunar calendar, said that since Beijing was chosen for the Games last July, its preparation for the Games has been going on "at a galloping pace."

"Indeed, Beijing has not lost time," said the chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympic Games.

(China Daily February 6, 2002)