Beijing Expects Tougher Battle after Gaining Candidates StatusNew Beijing is making the first step toward the Great Olympics after the city was chosen as one of the five finalists to bid for the 2008 Olympic Games on Monday in Lausanne, Switzerland.Those who are also shortlisted are Toronto, Osaka, Paris and Istanbul while Bangkok, Havana, Seville, Kuala Lumpur and Cairo were rejected by the International Olympics Committee from the race. Beijing, whose slogan for the bid is "New Beijing, Great Olympics", has been widely considered the front-runner in the race. "Among the finalists, Beijing is the only candidate from a developing country. This shows that China has earned the recognition from the international community," said He Zhenliang, member of the IOC executive board at Lausanne. "Although the bid acceptance was measured technically, that Beijing which was named as one of five finalists suggested that the city is fully in a position to host a wonderful Olympic Games." Keeping in memory the bitter lesson of losing to Sydney in a two-vote margin for the 2000 Games, Beijing bid committee, however, showed cautious optimism. Expressing greetings to the other finalists, the committee said that a tougher battle for the quadrennial games has just begun. "It is just the beginning of a harder campaign. The competition will get more and more intense," said Wang Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games Bid Committee. "We must step up our effort and try to gain the initiative in the next stage." "It is not surprise for other finalists to get through the bid acceptance, considering their rich experience in hosting major events and advanced infrastructure," added Wang. Meanwhile Wang said that Beijing will carry on their bid in terms of the guidance of the IOC in the next stage. "I wish that in light of the IOC guidance, each candidate could compete in a fair manner and enhance the development of the Olympics Movement. "We also hope this bid could help boost the development of Beijing and make the Beijinger get benefits from it," said Wang. |
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