Officials with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport and Environment Commission hailed Beijing's progress in protecting the environment, but also urged it to develop effective ways to protect it even more effectively.

The impressive achievements in environmental protection have laid a solid foundation for a "Green Olympics" here in 2008, said Pal Schmitt, IOC member and chairman of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission.

Schmitt made the remarks on Saturday at the two-day First Regional Seminar on Sport and the Environment (East and Southeast Asia), which closed yesterday in Beijing.

"I am confident that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be an excellent event thanks to your endeavors for the environment," he said.

The main purpose of the seminar is to push the implementation of the Olympic Movement's Agenda 21 in the region, especially in Beijing.

Adopted in 1999 by the IOC, the Olympic Movement's Agenda 21 seeks to encourage its members to play an active part in sustainable development and protection of the environment.

Schmitt expressed his wishes that his commission have a Chinese member in the future, which could be a good link to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG).

Schmitt also suggested Beijing continue adopting effective measures to curb air pollution and reduce the consumption of coal and other "old" resources.

He also urged new methods for garbage treatment, and that Beijing take care to learn some lessons from the Sydney Olympic Games in the field of environmental protection.

"First of all, make specific environmental commitments part of the development plans well before design plans are finalized and construction begins," Schmitt said.

Joseph Tarradellas, also with the IOC Sport and Environment Commission, advised that more public transportation and bicycles be used in Beijing.

Tarradellas said he is against any tough policies on private cars but told China Daily: "I hope the government can make public transportation more convenient and efficient so residents can make choices by themselves."

Wang Wei, secretary-general of BOCOG, vowed to draw lessons from the environmental protection experiences of cities who have held Olympics before, and to use those lessons in preparing for the 2008 Games.

A specific plan on environmental protection was released by BOCOG and the Beijing municipal government in September, which listed the main tasks on ambient air quality, water, ecological conservation, construction and industrial pollution, solid wastes, noise, electric-magnetic radiation and radioactivity.

(China Daily November 4, 2002)