IOC pleased with smooth running of Beijing Games
13/8/2008 18:17
The International Olympic Committee is pleased with how the Beijing
Olympics proceeded since it started last Friday with a spectacular opening
ceremony, an IOC official said in Beijing today.
"We don't have any issues so
far and we are very happy with that," IOC's Olympic Games executive director
Gilbert Felli told a press conference.
Felli praised the local organizers for
the smooth operation of a "fantastic" opening ceremony which involved more than
15,000 performers and was watched by an estimated four billion people around the
globe.
"Now we have been very pleased with the outcome of it," he
said.
The 10,000-plus athletes are also very "happy" with most aspects of the
Games ranging from accommodation to transport and venues, said Felli.
"The
athletes are what we care. I can say they are very happy," he said.
"The IOC
President (Jacques Rogge) said he took his breakfast at the Olympic Village this
morning in a corner so that he is not to be disturbed by too many
people.
"But he said so many athletes realized he was there and came to him
and said 'President, thank you. I have never seen a condition for us like
this.'"
Felli, who has overseen Beijing's preparatory work since it was
awarded the Games in 2001 as a member of the IOC's coordination commission, also
paid tribute to the volunteers.
"All the volunteers are dedicated to do
things," Felli said. "Sometimes we got difficulty in understanding between the
volunteers and the people, but we have to say that they are doing a fantastic
job."
A total of 100,000 volunteers have been recruited to work for the
Beijing Olympics and Paralymics.
The IOC had announced earlier this week that
the daily meeting with BOCOG would be held every other day because the Games are
running well.
Xinhua
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