Preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games are a hot topic at gatherings of Beijing's legislature and political advisory body.

 

The city's two senior officials, Mayor Wang Qishan and Communist Party Secretary Liu Qi, recently shared their hopes for the Games.

 

Wang spoke of his one main concern. "If a rainstorm hits Beijing at around 8 PM on August 8 next year, when the opening ceremony starts, I will not be able to do anything about it," he said.

 

The mayor said officials in the capital were researching the weather on that date during the past 15 years, and had invited experts to work out contingency plans to deal with a storm.

 

Still, Wang said he was confident that the Games would be a success.

 

"I am fully confident that Beijing can host an outstanding Olympics thanks to a nationwide effort and input from all sides," Wang said on Saturday during the ongoing Fifth Session of the 10th Beijing Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference.

 

"Beijing's biggest advantage lies in its amazing organizing power and its citizens' willingness to cooperate with the government during special occasions," he said.

 

Wang became mayor in April 2003. He has a reputation for resourcefulness based on his smooth handling of the SARS aftermath.

 

"I have faith in the conscientiousness of the people of Beijing. They are the real hosts of the Games," he said.

 

The mayor said his confidence was based on the people's response to SARS and last year's Sino-African Summit, when more than 40 heads of state and government visited Beijing in November.

 

He also asked the public to prepare for the event. "More than 20,000 unregistered reporters and 10,000 registered ones are coming, and they are going to cover every detail of Beijing in their articles," he said. "We have to have a good Olympics, otherwise not only will our generation lose face, but also our ancestors."

 

Meanwhile, Liu Qi said the city would audit all Olympics-related projects to ensure a corruption-free Games.

 

"The Games will be supervised to make sure the event is transparent and open," said Liu, who is also president of BOCOG, at the ongoing Fifth Session of the 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

 

He said that in addition to ensuring a high standard of work, his office would investigate officials' lifestyles, stating that "officials must not be dissipated by frivolous pleasures, and should not visit entertainment venues after work."

 

Last year prosecutors launched criminal proceedings against former Beijing vice-mayor Liu Zhihua, who was suspected of taking millions of yuan in bribes. He had been in charge of building Olympics venues.

 

Liu Qi also urged friendliness during the Games, saying the city would continue to cultivate courtesy and civilized behavior among residents, and improve order in public places.

 

(China Daily January 29, 2007)