Chinese organizers have "delivered on what they promised" to combat air pollution and traffic congestion for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the IOC's coordinator for the games said Thursday.

Hein Verbruggen, who heads the International Olympic Committee's coordination commission for Beijing, gave another upbeat assessment of overall planning 18 months before the games take place in the world's most populous nation for the first time.

"One can only give positive reports," he said after briefing the IOC executive board. "Things are going very, very well. The main thing is there are absolutely no delays whatsoever in any aspect of the organization."

Beijing organizers reported to the IOC by teleconference from the Chinese capital.

While Beijing is on track or ahead of schedule in venue construction for the Olympics, the main concern has been over environmental issues. Most of the efforts are aimed at easing traffic and pollution, much of it generated by the soaring numbers of private cars and official vehicles.

"It's clear the environmental problems in Beijing are pretty well handled," Verbruggen said. "They've done pretty much everything they promised to do. We have gotten very good guarantees from the Chinese."

China plans to take "all kinds of measures" to ensure clean air during a series of Olympic test events being held this year, he said.

"What they will do for the environment is not just for the games," Verbruggen said. "They delivered what they have promised. We are absolutely convinced there will be an important legacy after the games in terms of environment."

Verbruggen said the IOC board approved Beijing's designs for the Olympic medals, another key milestone in Olympic preparations. He declined to give details of the medals, saying they would be announced by Chinese officials in Beijing.

Beijing has undergone a boom in private vehicle ownership since the games were awarded in 2001, with about 2.8 million vehicles now clogging the capital's roads. Massive traffic jams have become routine, despite a steady expansion of the subway and road system, and controlling gridlock is considered a key logistical hurdle for the games.

Beijing has been undergoing a boom in new construction and public consumption fed by China's roaring economic growth, while at the same time trying to ramp up for the complex task of staging an Olympics.

On the final day of its two-day meeting, the IOC board was also receiving updates on preparations for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and 2012 London Games, as well as a review of last year's Winter Games in Turin.