"The immigration procedure is always slow for many people coming at the same time, but the volunteers helped us very friendly so it's OK."

Tatera praised the Chinese government's green efforts. "I'm not worried about the air quality here. It's getting better in the past two years."

Tatera also said he is opposed to any efforts to boycott the Olympics. "Sport is sport, politics is politics," he said.

As for Poland's goal for the Beijing Olympics, Tatera said though it's hard to say at the moment, his country will win no less than the 10 gold medals it had in Athens in 2004.

Water sports such as rowing, canoeing and swimming are the country's strong events. The men's volleyball team and men's handball team are also likely to have good results, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)