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IOC president raves about China's National Games
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-13 06:12
NANJING, Jiangsu: Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) spoke highly of China's National Games yesterday when he came to
Nanjing, the capital city of eastern Jiangsu Province, to attend the opening
ceremony of China's 10th National Games.
"I know the importance of China's National Games, and it is not only for the
athletes but for the whole population," Rogge said while meeting Liu Peng,
director of China's State Administration of Sports, and other Chinese officials
of the Chinese Olympic Committee.
"There is no doubt that after the great success you have achieved in Athens
last year during the Olympic Games, and with the preparations that you have now
for the National Games, I would not be surprised if China would lead the medal
count in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."
Several IOC members are part of Rogge's entourage, including Hein Verbruggen,
president of IOC's Co-ordination Commission for the Beijing Olympics, and
Richard Kevin Gosper, the Co-ordination Commission's vice-president.
It is the second time for Rogge to attend China's National Games. He attended
the event for the first time in Guangzhou four years ago. But it is his
inaugural tour to Nanjing, the capital during 10 periods in Chinese history.
"I'm very glad to be in Nanjing because it is a very
special city to China. It is a city of culture but today it is also a city of
sports," said Rogge, while visiting Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum after arriving in
the city. "I know the Chinese history very well, and it is a very important
place of China."
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