SPORTS> Top News
|
SPORTS> Top News
|
|
Olympic chief lauds host city of 2008 Games
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-02 09:37 GENEVA - The Beijing Olympic Games were "truly exceptional" in many aspects, including the level of participation, performance and the quality of sports facilities, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief said on Wednesday. Jacques Rogge said the Beijing Games were "truly a great success", and he had good reason to declare the Games "truly exceptional" at the closing ceremony on Aug 24.
Indeed, a record 204 national Olympic committees, out of the world total of 205, attended the Games in Beijing, Rogge told a press conference in Geneva. Eighty-seven countries or regions won medals during the Beijing Games, up 20 on the previous event in Athens, which demonstrates the Olympic movement is gaining momentum, he said.
The Beijing Olympics were also exceptional in terms of the level of performance. "We have 43 world records beaten. We have never had so many records beaten at the Olympics," Rogge said. The IOC chief also heaped praise on the Olympic village and Beijing's sports infrastructure. "I myself have visited 18 villages in Olympics, and I can tell you it was a village of superior quality," he said. He said the Olympic stadiums in Beijing, the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, were really extraordinary in terms of architectural quality. And what is important is that the sports infrastructure was designed for use after the Olympic Games, so it was actually a long-term investment for the country's sports development. Rogge also expressed satisfaction with the Beijing transportation network, which functioned remarkably during the Games. He said he was very pleased with the media coverage and television broadcast of the Beijing Games. "We had high quality television images ... it was the first Games that have been broadcast in high definition." According to Rogge, television audiences increased 20 percent, on average, to 30 percent from the Athens Games in most countries. The IOC's anti-doping efforts also bore fruit during the Beijing Olympic Games. "Even if doping will never be resolved, of course, we are more credible than ever and it is more difficult for athletes to use drugs," Rogge said. About 4,500 doping tests were carried out compared to 3,500 four years ago. Rogge said the Games had left China an important legacy, including sports sites, general infrastructure such as the new airport terminal and the improved subway system, as well as improvement in the field of the environment. He said the Games have had a positive influence on China, notably promoting the country's opening up to the world. "We believe the Games have had a positive influence on China," Rogge told reporters. "China has opened up to the world. There were 32,000 media people (in Beijing). They were able to report freely, and they were able to express their views unhindered," Rogge said. Asked to comment on the criticism raised by certain human rights groups, Rogge said: "We do not necessarily share their point of view. "Our position is that the Olympic Games are a force for good, that they have a positive influence on societies," he said. |
