Venue for 2008 Beach Volleyball Final: Tian'anmen Square?Does anyone dare to imagine the 2008 Olympic beach volleyball final will be held at the heart of China -- Tian'anmen Square? Are you kidding me?The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee said the final of the fancy game could be held at the world's biggest square, if China wins the bid. The Chengdu-based West China Metropolis Journal first reported the news on November 21, which if materialized will be unprecedented in China's history. The square has not been used as a venue for any competing sport games. The journal reported that Beijing bid committee has approved a suggestion proposed by the China Volleyball Association, provided Beijing gains the right to host the 2008 Olympics. The proposal came after officials of the Federation Internationale De Volleyball (FIVB) expressed such a hope during its recent inspection tour in Beijing, the report said. After doing a feasibility study, the committee said there would be no problem with the build-up of spectator seats, and supply and discharge of water there. The report also said China's Volleyball Association has delivered a formal letter to FIVB for venue confirmation. Another report said that the Paris 2008 Olympics bid committee had agreed that the same game could be held at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, if Paris wins. Beijing, Paris, Toronto, Osaka, and Istanbul are the five contestants to bid for the 2008 Games, and the International Olympic Committee will decide the winner in July 2001 in Moscow. |
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