The International Olympic Committee is pleased with how the Beijing Olympics proceeded since it started last Friday with a spectacular opening ceremony, an IOC official said on Wednesday.

"We don't have any issues so far and we are very happy with that," IOC's Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli told a press conference.

Felli praised the local organizers for the smooth operation of a "fantastic" opening ceremony which involved more than 15,000 performers and was watched by an estimated four billion people around the globe.

"Now we have been very pleased with the outcome of it," he said.

The 10,000-plus athletes are also very "happy" with most aspects of the Games ranging from accommodation to transport and venues, said Felli.

"The athletes are what we care. I can say they are very happy," he said.

"The IOC President (Jacques Rogge) said he took his breakfast at the Olympic Village this morning in a corner so that he is not to be disturbed by too many people.

"But he said so many athletes realized he was there and came to him and said 'President, thank you. I have never seen a condition for us like this.'"

Felli, who has overseen Beijing's preparatory work since it was awarded the Games in 2001 as a member of the IOC's coordination commission, also paid tribute to the volunteers.

"All the volunteers are dedicated to do things," Felli said. "Sometimes we got difficulty in understanding between the volunteers and the people, but we have to say that they are doing a fantastic job."

A total of 100,000 volunteers have been recruited to work for the Beijing Olympics and Paralymics.

The IOC had announced earlier this week that the daily meeting with BOCOG would be held every other day because the Games are running well.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2008)