IOC Opens Door for Change in Olympic Dates

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 09, 2002

IOC Opens Door for Change in Olympic Dates

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The International Olympic Committee(IOC) suggested Friday in Beijing that they might reassess the opening and closing dates for the 2008 Olympic Games to assure thebest weather conditions for the athletes.

The original dates for Beijing Games has been set for the last week of July and first week of August, which has caused concern that the punishing summer heat at that time might lead to the underperformance of athletes.

The IOC used to have the bidding cities to propose dates freely,but starting from the bid for the 2008 Olympic Games the world's sport governing body fixes the dates as part of the bidding document for the first time.

"We did it because we felt by talking with different international federation about the general calendar of sports thatprobably it is the best dates for the Summer Games," said Gilbert Felli, IOC sports director.

He made the remarks at a press conference after the IOC delegation, composed of members of the Coordination Commission forBeijing Games and Olympic experts in a variety of fields, concluded its three-day visit to the host city.

But Felli suggested the door is open for the dates to be modified.

"Maybe for Beijing it is not exactly the best condition," said Felli. "If Beijing came up with some technical recommendations, wewill have to reassess our own position... and it will be balance between the two aspects."

He added that this is not worrying since the IOC has long experience in dealing with such matters and will find consensus between all parties concerned in the end.

"I am sure at that time the athletes condition will prevail," he said.

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