Beijing Olympic organizers said?in Beijing?Thursday
that they would speed up the Olympic construction work and complete
the basic structure of major projects by 2006.
"Our emphasis will be on the new venues, and the basic structure
of them as well as the Olympic village, media village and National
Conference Center will be completed by this year," Liu Qi,
president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics
(BOCOG), said Thursday morning in a presentation to the 118th
session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Liu said the construction of the 14 new Olympic stadiums has all
started and other major projects including the Olympic park have
been getting under way smoothly.
Meanwhile, four rail lines in a total length of 115km and 22
roads connecting with the Olympic area have started construction in
full scale, Liu said.
The BOCOG has announced previously that they would complete most
of the constructions in 2007 and make sure the venues are in
position for the testing events.
To gain more experience and test the completed venues, Liu said
China will host a number of testing events including the World
Softball Championships and the International Sailing Regetta this
year.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will start in 911 days.
(Xinhua News Agency Feb. 10, 2006)