Mr. Lou Dapeng's Speech

Distinguished Members of the IOC,
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,
My name is Lou Dapeng, Sports Director of Beijing Bid Committee. Today I have the honor of reporting to you what we have planned for world's athletes in 2008.
Having been an athlete, coach and a sport administrator-and in particular having served as a technical delegate at the Olympics-I have learned that nothing in the Olympic Games is more important than the interest of the athlete. Our entire plan has been developed with the athlete's needs at the center. All decisions were driven by the question: what is best for the athletes, both the Olympians and the Paralympians. With the advice and guidance of the International Federations and the input from our athletes, I am pleased to be able to say with modesty that we have answered this question effectively.
For the 2008 Games, we shall present the 28 sports in 37 competition sites, supported by 59 training sites, all IF approved in concept.
The 32 venues in Beijing are conveniently located along the main transportation routes within the city in four primary clusters: The Olympic Green, the Western Community Area, the University Area and the North Scenic Area. 53 percent of the venues are less than 10 minutes travel time from the Olympic Village and all 32 less than 30 minutes. This guarantees the greatest possible convenience for the athletes.
The five venues outside Beijing, those for sailing and football preliminaries are well connected to Beijing by air and road and their sub-Villages are all within five minutes from the venues.
By the end of 2006, all the venues will be ready for test events. They shall incorporate the latest technology and input from the IFs. By then, Beijing will have one of the finest networks of state-of-the-art sport facilities found anywhere.
The jewel in the crown of our plan is Beijing's remarkable Olympic Green, 1, 215 hectares of prime land close to the city center.
The Olympic Green will serve as the vibrant center point of the 2008 Games, encompassing the three dimensions of Olympism: sport, culture and environment. In the Olympic Green, you will find 14 major sport venues, including the National Stadium; the Olympic Village; the Media Village; the MPC and IBC; as well as the cultural facilities for the athletes and a superb forest park of 760 hectares.
56 percent of the athletes in Beijing will compete in the Olympic Green.
The Olympic Village will consist of permanent low-rise apartments that provide the athletes with an average of 22 square meters each, more living space than at any previous Games. Every two athletes will share a bathroom. Each unit is equipped with air conditioning, television, phone and computer connections ?shy; so from their rooms all athletes can share their experience with their loved ones back at home. The Village will also serve as the Paralympic Village.
The Village will offer a great multi-cultural setting that respects and embraces the cultural and religious diversity and dietary requirements of all Olympians and Paralympians.
Every delegation, both for the Olympics and Paralympics, from the largest to the smallest, will enjoy the same attention, service and support-attaches who speak their own languages will be at their service at all time.
Over the past decade, China has hosted over 50 world and continental championship events and multi-games, including the 11th Asian Games, the 1st East Asian Games, as well as the 6th Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled. Next month, Beijing will host the 21st Universiade. Through hosting these events, we have gained valuable experience in planning and organizing every aspect of major sports. We welcome experts from previous Games to work with us so as to build on past experience and success.
In the coming seven years, we earnestly look forward to your guidance and a close partnership with the IOC, International Federations, National Olympic Committees, and IPC, to ensure Great Olympics in New Beijing in 2008.
Thank you.
Now, I would like to invite Mr. Wang Wei, the Secretary General of our Bid Committee to take the floor.