Liu Jingmin, vice mayor of Beijing and vice standing chairman of Beijing Committee for 2008 Olympic Games Bid, told the journalist Sunday that Beijing would not let common people to dip into their pocket for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.
Many persons wanted to donate money during the period of 2008 Olympic Games bid, said Liu. We really appreciated the ebullient support from the masses but we've all declined. Instead, we did advise everybody to spend the money in improving their livelihood by saying that they could buy a pair of sneakers to join the physical exercises. That meant the best support to Beijing's Olympic Games bid.
Liu added that after the success of the Olympic Games bid, many people once again expressed their wishes in making contribution to the Olympic Games. Although the organizing committee for the 29th Olympic Games has not been set up, Liu emphasized, yet we still hope that the broad masses of the people may use the money in improving their living and participating in the physical exercises. They may express their enthusiastic support to the Olympic Games by doing their jobs well. In short, we do not advocate or encourage mass donation and contribution.
Beijing's economy maintains a two-digit growth since 1998, said Liu. In the past five years, the fiscal revenue of the city increased by more than 20 percent annually and the first six months this year saw Beijing realize the GDP of 123.37 billion yuan, up 11 percent and the local fiscal revenue 21.71 billion yuan, up 29.1 percent. The favorable tendency will be further intensified with the impact of the success in the Olympic Games bid. Liu requested the public to have faith in Beijing by saying that Beijing has absolute competence and strength to host an outstanding performance of the Olympic Games in its history.
(People's Daily 07/23/2001)
