IOC member confident of Beijing Olympics
( 2001-11-13 16:42) (China Daily)
The gala opening ceremony of China's 9th National
Games in Guangzhou Sunday has reassured the International Olympic Committee of
Beijing's readiness for the 2008 Olympiad, although there are still seven years
to go.
After watching the extravaganza ceremony here, Sinan Erdem, a member of the
International Olympic Committee, made no hesitation in expressing his confidence
about a wonderful Games in Beijing.
"I watched the opening ceremony two days ago, it was magnificent," said
Erdem. "I think even today China is ready to organize the Games."
Erdem, who is in Guangzhou for the first time, had also been impressed by
Guangzhou, one of the biggest cities in China and a vanguard in the country's
reform and opening.
"You have really modern life. The hotel (where I stay) is wonderful, and the
facilities are excellent, the city, especially in the evening, life is
wonderful," said the IOC member from Turkey who paid a visit to Beijing ten
years before. "In my opinion," he went on, "China has improved a lot."
Erdem said that the IOC's decision to choose Beijing for the 2008 Games in
Beijing will be a great boost for China.
"China is a big country, and it is trying to open the doors to the outside
world, so to bring the Games to China is a good step for the future," he said.
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