ICF president hails Olympic venues in Beijing
22/8/2008 17:44
President of Interational Canoe Federation (ICF) Ulrich Feldhoff said in
Beijing today that Beijing has the best competition venues and wished paddlers
to achieve what they want.
Speaking at a press conference one hour before the
finals kick off in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, the president said the
weather conditions and venue conditions are good.
"The conditions here are
optimum and we are happy to have Olympics here," he told reporters through a
translator.
On the week in the lake, he said that almost every venue has the
weed problem and the organizers are doing their best to ensure there will be no
weed hindrance.
He also said that the ICF is trying to promote the sport of
canoeing and kayaking in the developing countries in Asia, South America and
Africa.
"We have to do a lot to improve performance level in some
continents," he said.
IFC officials at the press conference also hailed China
for the organizing work and lauded China's progress made in the sport in recent
years.
"I think China has achieved much progress in recent years. You have so
many boats in the events and in the finals. This is a clear signal that China is
doing very well," the ICF official in charge of news affairs told Xinhua.
He
said that the venue is an important Olympic legacy, not only for China, but for
the whole Asia as well.
"I hope more regional and national competitions to be
held here, " he said, adding that this would be good for promotion of
performance level of the whole continent.
Xinhua
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