Two months to go - Beijing eyes games silver lining
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
BEIJING, June 9 (AFP): Optimism is flooding back to Beijing two months before the Olympics, with organisers eyeing success despite fears over pollution, security and the potential for more PR blunders.
Preparations are all but over and after a period of almost unrelieved gloom, Games organisers can point to several bright spots-tickets are sold out and the cutting-edge venues for the August 8-24 extravaganza are unrivalled.
Each of the 37 sites has been put through a trial by fire in four dozen test events, including a full track and field Olympic dress rehearsal for the main National Stadium last month.
"The athletes of the world will be excited out of their minds when they come here in August," Australia's senior International Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper said.
Much has changed since IOC chief Jacques Rogge said on April 7 in Beijing that the Olympics were in crisis.
He was not referring to Beijing's pollution. Poor air quality will remain a major issue and Rogge has said events could be put off because of it.
Preparations are all but over and after a period of almost unrelieved gloom, Games organisers can point to several bright spots-tickets are sold out and the cutting-edge venues for the August 8-24 extravaganza are unrivalled.
Each of the 37 sites has been put through a trial by fire in four dozen test events, including a full track and field Olympic dress rehearsal for the main National Stadium last month.
"The athletes of the world will be excited out of their minds when they come here in August," Australia's senior International Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper said.
Much has changed since IOC chief Jacques Rogge said on April 7 in Beijing that the Olympics were in crisis.
He was not referring to Beijing's pollution. Poor air quality will remain a major issue and Rogge has said events could be put off because of it.