Coastal city pulsates with Beijing

QINGDAO: As Beijing's partner city for next year's Olympics, Qingdao is now hosting the 2007 International Regatta.

The city has been pulsating with Beijing ever since July 13, 2001, when China's capital won the bid to host the 2008 Games.

In 2003, Qingdao became Beijing's official partner as host of the 2008 sailing competition.

Since then, the city has spared neither effort nor expense to prepare comprehensively for the competition.

It has built a first-class Olympic Sailing Center in just three years and, except for the Olympic "sub-village", finished all facilities well before the Games.

The smaller Olympic village will be completed by the end of the year.

International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Vice President and Technical Delegate David Kellett spoke highly of the Qingdao Sailing Center.

"Everything has been delivered on time, and we are very happy and impressed with the new buildings and the new facilities here in Qingdao," he said.

At this year's regatta, all facilities, technical systems and procedures are being tested to see if they adhere to Olympic standards.

The sailing committee will make adjustments according to newly discovered problems.

Last year, Qingdao successfully hosted its first test event.

Afterwards, the sailing committee strengthened its management and adjusted procedures in response to 184 problems identified by ISAF.

Under the lead of the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG), the sailing committee was made responsible for venue construction, competition organization, cultural activities, safety, traffic and accommodation, to name just a few.

Under the auspices of BOCOG, the committee is doing everything in its power to nurture a sense of the "people's Olympics".

Through various activities, it has encouraged thousands to take part and make the sailing component a wonderful success.

(China Daily 08/17/2007 page24)