China full of confidence for Olympics (AFP) Updated: 2006-08-08 18:17
BEIJING - China's preparations for the 2008 Olympics are on schedule and
going smoothly, Games officials said as the clock ticked to exactly two years
before the opening ceremony.
Construction of Olympic venues, the signing of sponsors, curbing the city's
traffic woes and even efforts to improve the manners of local citizens are on
target, Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games (BOCOG) officials said
Tuesday.
"Under the full support of our government and people,
all types of preparation work for the Beijing Olympic Games are going smoothly, according to schedule," BOCOG secretary
general Wang Wei told reporters.
"The conditions for Beijing holding a successful Olympics are becoming more
and more mature."
Wang said work on all 37 competition and 76 training venues would be finished
by the end of 2007.
China's financial goals are also being met with revenue from the Games
expected to exceed original targets, Wang said, insisting that the pirating of
Olympic goods would not put a big dent in earnings.
And while the city is suffering from increasing traffic
and pollution problems, Wang and other officials expressed confidence in
measures to reduce the number of cars in Beijing during the Games.
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