Beijing Mayor Welcomes IOC Members to UniversiadeBeijing Mayor Liu Qi hosted a reception on Wednesday for nine members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 21st Summer Universiade this evening.Among the visiting IOC members are Richard Kevan Gosper of Australia, Kim Un Yong of South Korea, Tennan Edward Wilson of New Zealand, Wu Ching-Kuo of the Chinese Taipei, Francis Were Nyangweso of Uganda, Nat Indrapana of Thailand, Irena Szewinska of Poland, William J. Hybl of the United States and Timothy Fok of Hong Kong, China. Accompanied by Liu, also President of the Univesiade Organizing Committee, and Yuan Weimin, Chinese Olympic Committee President, the guests admired Beijing's beautiful landscape on top of the Beijing Hotel, which just borders Tian'anmen Square, the heart of the city. Kim, who has been to Beijing for 10 times, said every time he came here, he saw a different city. "The change is not only the look of the city, but also the people, they are much more enthusiastic, with big hope and with big confidence," said Kim. "They speak better English, much more refined and more much experienced,"he added. Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games on July 13 and the Universiade is the first multi-sport global event to be held in China. About 6,800 people from 169 countries and regions have registered for the Games, making the Universiade the largest ever in its history. |
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