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A group of world famous Olympians joined Chinese Olympic champions
yesterday at a gala dinner in Beijing to celebrate the upcoming
International Olympic Day on June 23.
The dinner was given at the century-old gardenesque Prince Jun's
Palace located in Chaoyang Park, where Beijing bid committee have
planned to hold the beach volleyball tournament for the Games. It
is only 15 minutes drive from the planned Olympic Park where a majority
of events will be held.
"Though we arrived here only last night, we still had a little
bit of time to walk around. I was impressed by the city, it is better
than we had thought," said Henni Onodi of Hungary, an Olympic
gymnastics champion in Barcelona.
The other world Olympians present included Leroy Burrell, a former
world-renowned record holder in the 100-meter dash, Dick Fosbury
who won the high jump at the 1968 Olympics and Michelle Finn Burrell
who won the women's 4X100meter relay in Barcelona Games Beijing
Mayor Liu Qi announced at the ceremony that palace would serve as
the Olympian Reunion Center if Beijing wins the right to host the
2008 Games.
"It will have 60 rooms and will house close-circuit television
programming for all Olympic events. And cultural events, entertainment,
a multilingual interpretation service, postal services, medical
center and ticket services are all planned for this facility,"
said Liu.
"During the Games, free public transportation will be provided
to all the Olympians and regular shuttle bus service between the
Palace and Olympic venues will be available," Liu added.
"On the eve of the International Olympic Day, we presented
this special gift to all the Olympians in the world," Liu said
of the palace which dated back to the year of 1881.
Liston Bochette, secretary general of the World Olympians Assocation,
also said that there could be no better place to celebrate the Olympic
Day than the palace in this city.
"It is one of the finest facility we ever have," said
Bochette. "it is a reflection of the Chinese culture and an
extension of welcome."
"To put it frankly, we are very pleased that Beijing is committed
and understand the value of the Olympians, including competing athletes
as well as those who have retired," said Bochette, a three-time
Olympian for the Puerto Rican bobsled team.
"What we see here is the embracement of the Olympians. We are
very pleased with that," he added.
It is the first time for Bochette to visit China which he described
his impression with a word "surprise".
"It is like a birthday present. You always don't know what
is in the package, and feel happy when you open it," he said.
At the ceremony, Xu Haifeng, a shooter who won the first Olympic
gold for China, also read a letter to the International Olympic
Committee on behalf of all the Chinese Olympic champions which totalled
86 since 1984.
"We firmly believe that Beijing could organise an excellent
Games, and it will leave a unique legacy to China and sport.
"We would also tell all athletes in the world that Beijing
will provide the best conditions for you to compete," said
the letter.
(People's Daily 06/20/2001)
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