Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 08, 2002
IOC Delegation Begins Three-day Visit to Beijing
An International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegation started their three-day inspection to Beijing Wednesday by visiting the Olympic Green and Wukesong Sports and Cultural Complex, two of the major planned venues of the 2008 Games.
An International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegation started their three-day inspection to Beijing Wednesday by visiting the Olympic Green and Wukesong Sports and Cultural Complex, two of the major planned venues of the 2008 Games.
Headed by Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympics, the 23-strong team had a bird's eye view of the designated site of the Olympic Green on the 20th floor of the Catic Hotel, a few kilometers south to the Olympic Green.
Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), briefed the IOC teamon the initial construction plan of the Olympic Green.
"A new subway line will be built before 2008, and the line runsacross the Olympic Green and links it to the urban areas," said Liu, also Beijing vice mayor in charge of urban construction.
Traffic has always been an obstacle to the success of the past Olympic Games, but the IOC team were not much concerned about Beijing's capability to handle the issue after they watched a documentary featuring the city's sophisticated and intelligent traffic management.
In order to ensure a smooth traffic during the 2008 Games, Beijing will speed up its construction of subway and railway lines in the next six years.
"The key is to establish subway and railway transportation network in the city," said Yu Chunquan, vice director of the traffic control center.
"By 2008, about 30 to 40 percent of transportation will be made through subway and railway lines. It will largely reduce the pressures of highway transportation."
The IOC delegation then visited a design exhibition for the Olympic Green and Wukesong Sports and Cultural Complex, giving thumbs-up to the unique and splendid designs.
The delegation, composed of the IOC Coordination Commission members and experts in marketing, traffic, environmental protection, security and finance, will hold discussions with BOCOG officials on Thursday and Friday.