ATHENS, September 2 -- International Olympic Committee president Jacques
Rogg said Saturday that the preparations for the 2008 Beijing Games are on
track.
"The regular reports I receive are very positive as we see the amazing venues
that Beijing decided to build, taking shape," Rogge told Greek newspaper
Eleftheros Typos in an interview on Saturday.
"But the two years left until the staging of the Games are crucial. We must
remain focused and not digress from our aim," he added.
Games officials have said all of the venues will be completed in 2007 in time
for pre-Games testing.
China is also pumping an additional 40 billion US dollars to upgrade the
capital's infrastructure for the Olympics. That involves the construction of new
roads, railways and metro lines as well as a third terminal at Beijing airport.
"With BOCOG (Beijing Games organisers) progressing from a planning stage to
an operational stage focusing on the clients, it is crucial it continues working
to integrate all bodies involved in organising the Games," Rogge said.
"I have great trust that our Chinese friends will be successful in making
this transition and we will see successful Games in 2008," he said.