The international athletics organization delegates said Sunday evening that Beijing has been well prepared for the Olympic athletics competition in August.

William Bailey, who was the competition manager at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) technical delegate at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said, "Beijing is better organized and better prepared than the previous two editions of Olympic Games".

He said the organization and presentation of the China Athletics Open, from May 22 to 25 in the National Stadium, were "very good".

Cesar Moreno Bravo, also an IAAF technical delegate, said, "I'm very satisfied with the venue but there are some things that need to be improved."

"The track surface is too hard and there are too many people on the field," Bravo said. "I hope by the Olympics Games only the necessary people are there, so the athletes can be highlighted."

Jorge Salcedo, another IAAF technical delegate, said, "As an observer, I'm satisfied with three things: the first is that the (China Athletics Open) event has reached the IAAF standard, the second is that the quality of the facilities is also very good and the third, the schedule is organized very well."

Paul Hardy, IAAF competitions director, said, "I noticed that things have been improved here since the field events took place within the tracks."

"In Rome the jumping pit is inside the tracks, " Hardy said, "so if we compare it to that, the Chinese practice is better."

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2008)