Sydney Sends Well-Wishing to Beijing's Olympic BidAfter hosting the "best ever" Olympics Games, Sydney has sent their best wishes to Beijing, one of the five bidders for the 2008 Olympic Games.John Fahey, Minister for Federal Finance and Administration, said on Monday that the bidding is "an opportunity for China, also a great sporting nation as well, to host the Olympics in Asia". "China is a great nation that the whole world recognizes and appreciates," said Fahey. "I am sure that it will be a significant merit in awarding the Games to Beijing." Fahey had been involved in the bid for the 2000 Games, which Beijing lost to Sydney by a two-vote margin. "That was a very close race, so I believe Beijing stands next chance of getting the Games," said Fahey. Sydney's success in staging the Millennium Olympics has raised the bar for the future Games, but Fahey expressed his confidence that if Beijing wins the bid, they can also put on a very wonderful Games. "Despite the fact that the standard or level has increased due to the great success of Sydney, that will be a challenge to the Chinese people and people of Beijing, but undoubtedly, they will take on this and do their best to make the challenge," said Fahey. Fahey believed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make their own wise judgment on the 2008 Olympics host. "I am confident that the IOC will consider all the cities and ultimately award the Games to the city that can put on the best Games. "I wish Beijing every success," Fahey said. The other four cities in the race for the 2008 Olympics are Paris, Istanbul, Toronto and Osaka. IOC will decide the host in Moscow next year. |
People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |