Tomorrow the Paralympic Games of 2008 will come to a close bringing the curtain down on the athletics of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

Today Beijing city officials announced a "victorious end" and completely successful city operations during a press conference in the Main Press Center.

The press conference

"All facilities and security have operated without incident," said Liu Zhi, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing municipal government.

Transportation has been a hot topic with new measures in place including odd-even car bans. The bans are set to end on September 20 despite their enormous success. Many have expressed opinions to continue them but officials stopped short of agreeing to impose the ban after the deadline.

"We are left with a very memorable legacy for the public transportation system in Beijing," said Zhou Zhengyu, spokesperson of Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications.

"A lot remains to be done to further improve the traffic in Beijing. It is not going to be completed over a short period of time or achieved at once," Zhou said.

Overall transportation has run very smoothly. Public transportation served 20 million passengers a day and Paralympic Games transportation ensured athletes, spectators and official delegates could attend events in a timely and orderly manner.

Air quality, also a big issue, met all standards during the Paralympic Games, said Liu. Concentration of sulphur dioxide dropped more than 60 percent and target standards were achieved for 194 days, 22 more days than the same period last year and the best ever in recent years.

City officials also boasted of cultural activities and performances in Beijing, but their highest praise came for volunteers who "have won the recognition of everyone."

Numbers of volunteers are staggering: 44,000 Games volunteers, 200,000 cheer volunteers, 400,000 city volunteers and 1 million social volunteers. They have effectively ensured the smooth operation of Paralympic competitions.

"In sun, wind or rain, these volunteers did their duty day and night," Liu said.

So "Good Luck" Beijing now becomes "Congratulations Beijing". Beijing truly has kept its commitment to bringing "Two Games, Equal Splendor."

(China.org.cn by Tabitha Messick, September 16, 2008)