China is ready
to welcome the world

on 8 august 2008, the Games of the XXiX olympiad will open in Beijing, china. “one world one Dream” is its motto, reflecting
the essence and universal values of the olympic spirit: unity, friendship, progress and harmony.

Hein Verbruggen, Chairman
of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) Coordination
Commission for the Beijing
2008 Olympic Games, at
Tiananmen Square on
March 31, 2008 in Beijing,
China.

The Beijing Games will be the fifth Olympics hosted by an Asian country – Japan organised the Summer Games in 1964 (Tokyo) and the Winter Games in 1972 (Sapporo) and 1998 (Nagano). In 1988, the Summer Games were staged in Seoul, South Korea – but the 2008 Games will be the first in the world’s most populous country.

the Chinese people, who are so excited about welcoming the world to their country, and of course the world’s athletes, for whom the Olympic Games are staged first and foremost, deserve success and a great event this summer.

The Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) is progressing well with all of its operations and we are confident that our Chinese friends will put on great Games for the athletes of the world. There is every reason to believe that a gold medal performance is within its grasp and that the world will marvel at superb Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has been a pleasure to work with BOCOG President Liu Qi and his team who have worked relentlessly for nearly seven years now. They, plus

The Chinese authorities hope to leave a lasting legacy for their country and their people. Infrastructure and sports-related costs reach at least 38 billion USD with the most notable improvements in the capital’s infrastructure being its five new subways, more than 190 miles of highways, about 100 miles of city roads, an entire new terminal at Beijing’s international airport and miles and miles of sewer system upgrades.

of the world’s most ancient and historic capital cities to compete in what will be the highlight of their sporting career. Of the 28 Olympic summer sports, rowing will showcase 550 athletes on the largest of the 31 new sports venues built for the Beijing Games. The Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in Shunyi spans 3,000 metres from north to south and 900 meters from east to west, with a total area of 1.62 square kilometres and a water area reaching 700,000 square meters.