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Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor April 2004 Letter from the Editor, March 2004

Letter from the Editor

As this month'sBTM roundup of events related to Beijing's Olympics bid confirms, February 19 will see the start of a five-day final inspection of the city by a select 19-strong group of experts from the International Olympics Committee (IOC). Few people know precisely how they will go about their task and exactly what they will inspect, only that it is unlikely to be a stone-turning exercise per se. Rather, it is probably fair to assume that these astute, worldly-wise visitors will take a broad look at all major elements---including those still on the drawing board---that will play a crucial role if Beijing is awarded the 2008 Games.

No doubt the inspectors will want to see such completed, renovated or planned stadia, pools, marathon course, athletes' village and whatever else comes under the heading of purely sports facilities. Then there will be things infrastructural, including the adequacy or otherwise of road and rail transportation systems, and the potential stumbling block of matters environmental. Like, will sprinters be able to gulp mouthfuls of truly fresh, clean air as they hurtle towards the tape?

The prospects of their so doing look good. Beijing has already made considerable progress in reducing the notorious noxious naughties that have long had its populace wheezing almost year-round, and at this rate there is no reason why it can't come up to even Sydney, Australia's, standard long before 2008. Beijing is also starting to look far prettier than could ever have been imagined, thanks to the huge "greening" program now under way.

Enormous efforts by officialdom and citizens alike are being put into improving the overall environment, with certain remarkable, self-effacing individuals displaying such fervent commitment to the cause that a special medal should be struck for them, whether or not Beijing's bid is successful. Some of these heroic people are profiled in our roundup, rightly so in our view because their example will likely rub off on others to the city's good.

Above all, our hats are raised to the leaders and members of Beijing's bid committee, BOBICO, whose unofficial motto would seem to be: "Nothing is impossible---a can't-win stance if ever there was, but which in recent times they have so often proved to be no idle claim. We think their motto should be: "We can do the impossible immediately, but miracles take a little time."

We wish the IOC inspectors well, confident that they will be satisfied with all they put under their collective microscope. Then we will all hold our breath until July 13, when the full IOC membership, meeting in Moscow, will cast their votes to choose the host city.

Beijing came close to being awarded the 2000 Games. Now it is infinitely better prepared to stage one of the greatest Olympic Games ever. Few countries can emulate China when it comes to orgazing really big events. In the New China, there is now real substance too.

Li Mingxia, Deputy Editor-in-Chief