Some gold for Beijing - before the Games

2008-7-9  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

BEIJING'S preparations for the Olympics were yesterday hailed as a "gold standard for the future," a month before the opening ceremony.

While conceding that concerns remained about air quality and a few broadcasting issues, Chief International Olympic Committee Inspector Hein Verbruggen was noticeably delighted.

"Here in the Chinese capital you can now really sense the excitement and anticipation," he said. "The city feels ready; it looks ready, with the stunning venues all completed."

Verbruggen was speaking after two days of meetings with Beijing organizers.

"What our hosts have achieved is exceptional," he said. "For the Games to be an overriding success - and the IOC has an underlying confidence this will unquestionably be the case - the organizers need now to deliver the services pledged for the various stakeholders who have begun to arrive for the Games."

Verbruggen was also on hand yesterday for the opening of the Main Press Center and International Broadcast Center, which will house 21,600 accredited media members during the Games.

Chinese officials believe that terrorism is the biggest threat to the Games.

China will deploy about 100,000 anti-terrorism police during the Games, with some of Beijing's 500,000 Olympic volunteers also serving in security roles.

The Olympic Games start in 30 days, and the Chinese Special Forces are ready, authorities said.

The Snow Leopard Commando Unit, a major anti-terrorism wing of the People's Armed Police, is poised for security operations during the Games, said a Beijing armed police official. "We have been training intensively for any possible incident."

The goal of training snipers was never to miss a shot, said the unit leader. "We will not give a terrorist the chance to hear the second shot."