eTN The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) has won praise from the International Olympic Committee (OIC) at the end of a three day inspection of preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.
"The last time we were here there was nothing on the ground," said Kenyan IOC delegate Kip Keino, when told by BOCOG officials about 60 percent of the Olympic Stadium structure is complete, and the remainder is scheduled to be completed by November.
"We cannot think of any other word than stunning to describe the Olympic Stadium and the Aquatic Center," said Hein Verbruggen, head of the International Olympic Committee coordination commission for the Beijing Games.
"The organizing committee has excellent, high quality people. There has never been an organizing committee that is so open to advise than this, or that has asked so much. They are willing to learn and take advice from Chinese or foreigners."
Unlike in the run-up to the last Olympics in Athens, where IOC issued a warning to speed up construction work, head of construction for BOCOG, Jin Yan informed IOC delegates construction work is well on schedule.
Keino, impressed by the speed of construction work using at Olympic sites, said, "They have the manpower."
"I think the main 90,000 seat capacity Olympic Stadium (also called Bird's Nest) will be the city's future icon, very much like the Sydney Opera House," added Verbruggen.
Construction work is well underway at 20 out of the 31 competition venues. The commission was also briefed on communications, ceremonies, the environment and technology involved for the 2008 Games.
Verbruggen was also assured by BOCOG the 20,000 media representatives from around the world who will be at the Olympic will be able to operate normally.
"BOCOG president Liu Qi gave his guarantee and we have no reason to believe that will not be the case. We have confidence they will fulfill the promises they made at the evaluation stage."
BOCOG expects to spend US$2 billon on construction of venues, out of the US$40 billion budgeted for Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Most of budget will go towards building new roads, subway lines, improving the city's power grid, and cleaning up the environment.
BOCOG informed the commission, tickets for the Olympic Games will be affordable to the local population, and ways will be found to sell tickets to the right people.
The Beijing Olympics will take place from August 8-24, 2008.
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