Honorary President of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch (3rd R) poses with students of the
affiliated high school of the Central Academy of Art and Design in Beijing,
China, Aug. 24. The students of the school gave their artworks including paper
cuttings and paintings as gifts to Samaranch during his visit to the school on
Sunday.- Xinhua
Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio
Samaranch said that the 29th Olympic Games of Beijing was the best one of his
life.
"I have attended many Olympic Games since Helsinki 1952, Finland and the ones
of Beijing 2008 have been the best I have ever seen," Samaranch said as quoted
by Mexican daily El Sol de Mexico yesterday.
Successful Olympic Games need three things: good organization and facilities,
a good local sports delegation, and people's enthusiasm, and China fulfilled all
of them, Samaranch said.
China achieved "good organization and facilities and it has presented to the
world the best stadium and swimming pool of the world," Samaranch said.
"China achieved very good results. They are the first at the gold medal
table," Samaranch said.
And the enthusiasm of the Chinese people was seen on the thousands volunteers
who participated during Beijing 2008.
Samaranch also said that the Olympic Games of London 2012 will be different,
they "will have their own personality", so there is not a point to compare
London 2012 with Beijing 2008.