IOC Inspector: Beijing Can Host Games for Athletes

The progress Beijing had made has enhanced the belief of the International Olympic Committee evaluation commission that the Chinese capital could stage the Games for athletes.

Gilbert Felli from Switzerland, who is the vice-chairman of the IOC inspection team, witnessed the changes that had taken place in the 3,000-year-old city. Felli had visited the Chinese capital eight years ago.

"I have seen many changes here. First of all, people in the streets are more colorful in clothing, more cars, a lot of construction and the quality of sport facilities has also improved a lot," he said at a press conference in Beijing on Saturday February 24.

"I am so sure that the first evaluation we have made, the first part of the evaluation for 2008 Games, shows that Beijing can organize the Games for athletes," he added.

Beijing, along with Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka, is bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games and the IOC will decide on the Games venue in July in Moscow.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/