By Xinhua
Beijing : Organisers of the 2008 Olympics said Monday that preparations for next year’s Games are progressing smoothly but challenges remain in areas like air pollution and citizens’ civility.
“On the whole, preparations for the Beijing Olympics are progressing smoothly as planned,” Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics (BOCOG), executive vice president Wang Wei told a press conference held to mark Wednesday’s start to the one-year countdown to the 2008 Games.
With the Chinese capital shrouded in thick smog Monday, Wang said air quality in the city has improved a lot.
Citing World Health Organization (WHO) indicators, Wang said good quality air days had increased from 100 in 1998 to 241 in 2006, and serious air pollution days had decreased from 141 to 24.
Wang added that special measures would be taken to ensure good air quality in next August.
“Good air quality and blue sky are not only important for the Olympic Games,” he said. “What matters more to us is not the image (of the country), but the health of the athletes and local citizens.”
A series of regulations aimed at ensuring media freedom in reporting the 2008 Games took effect early this year, which put Beijing under intense scrutiny of international press.
Another BOCOG executive vice president, Jiang Xiaoyu, said the organising committee welcomes reporters to objectively, fairly and comprehensively report on Beijing’s Olympic preparatory work.
“We have already heard some different voices, and we are mentally prepared for such voices to get louder and even sharper,” said Jiang.
“We welcome constructive criticism on our faults and defects, but we resolutely oppose the politicisation of Olympic affairs, for this does not accord with the Olympic spirit and Olympic Charter,” he added.
Compared to problems like pollution and traffic congestions, the Olympic organisers seem to be more worried about so-called “software construction”.
“The biggest challenge (in the year to come) is how to make sure our service level and the civility of our people matches the holding of an excellent Olympics,” said Jiang.