President Jiang Assures IOC of Full Support to Beijing's Olympic Bid

Chinese president Jiang Zemin has assured to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) full support by the Chinese government and the Chinese people to Beijing's bid for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Chinese president promised of such support in a letter he wrote to IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Jiang wrote in the letter dated September 9: "I have received your letter concerning Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"At the recent IOC Executive Board session presided over by you, Beijing has been accepted as one of the five candidate cities for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"My colleagues and I fully support Beijing's Olympic bid. If the 2008 Olympic Games can be held in Beijing, a fast developing city with a long-standing civilization, it will be of great significance to the Olympic Movement, to China and the world at large.

"I firmly believe that with the support of the Chinese Government and the entire Chinese people, Beijing will exert an extraordinary effort to make the Games an excellent sports event."

At the end of the letter, The Chinese president invited Samaranch to visit China.



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