In Beijing the boss of the city's Olympic Committee has promised the best-ever games on the eve of the second anniversary of China's successful bid to host the 2008 games.
It has been two years since China's capital won the right to hold the Olympic Games. The Olympic Organizing Committee boss, Liu Qi, said he is confident that Beijing will present the world with the best ever event of the world's biggest sports gathering.
Liu said the market-development plan for the 2008 Olympics, to be enacted in September, will play a key role in successfully hosting the games.
Tapping the market will draw in both funds and technical support. "According to our market development plan, the Olympic Games will generate revenues of about 1.6 billion US dollars."
Liu Qi also said the organizing committee attaches great importance to the utilization of the new sports facilities after the games and that the building of most of the venues will be financed by the private sector.
Over the past months, the committee has been looking at blueprints for several major venues, including the National Swimming Center. Major construction work is scheduled to begin at the end of this year.
Beijing organizers will unveil the emblem of the event in early August.
(CCTV July 13, 2003)
