Beijing warming up for Olympics (photos attached)

Updated：2007-07-25

(BEIJING, July 25) -- Successful "Good Luck Beijing" sport events will lay a solid foundation for the 2008 Olympic Games, said Liu Jingmin, vice-mayor of Beijing and executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

The organization and operation system has been set up, which is characterized by multi-party involvement, close cooperation and common preparation, Liu told the local press recently.

42 pre-Olympic Games sport events have been scheduled between July 2007 and May 2008 in Beijing and co-host cities, with 26 of them planned for this year. Beijing will stage 23 such events and the rest will be held in Hong Kong (equestrian), Qingdao (sailing), Shenyang (football) and Qinhuangdao (football).

Beijing stages “Good Luck Beijing” sport events to warm up for the upcoming Olympics

This August will see the most extensive agenda. There will be Hong Kong equestrian competitions, Qingdao International sailing regatta, World Rowing Junior Championships in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park of Beijing, the 2007 International Road Cycling Invitational Race, 2007 International Baseball Tournament, 2007 FIVB Beach Volleyball Women's Challenger, 2007 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, 2007 Junior World Wrestling Championship and three other events.

The competition rules and detailed schedules for this year's events have been made ready, and athlete registration has been launched, Liu said, adding that registration for hokey and baseball events have concluded already.

Intensive competitions have been arranged for August and September, because the weather and environment conditions are similar to that of next summers' Olympics, he explained.

Aiming at rehearsing what the Olympics will need, the organizing committee has elaborated general management policies covering as many as 35 areas, set forth the working standards and procedures in such fields as reception, services and etiquette, and pinpointed assessment items, Liu said.

The competition venues will be delivered for use one to three months in advance and the training venues, hotels, hospitals, logistics centers and arrival-departure facilities have been settled down. Marketing of the sports equipment has been completed and supply is underway. In addition, 11 of Beijing's districts and counties related to the events have made their logistics ready.

(Photo credit: Bjd.com.cn)