Beijing This Month | Business Beijing | Beijing Official Guide | Map of Beijing | Beijing - The Magnificent City | Beijing Investment Guide | Beijing Fact File
Article featured in Beijing This Month, December 2006
Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government,  Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism

Beijing 2008 Olympics

Arts & Culture
Beijing Basics
Business
Dining
Editorial
Health & Wellness
Love & Life
Nightlife
Shopping
Sport
Classifieds
Get by in Beijing
English 1000, Chinese 1000

Beijing, Qingdao Excel in Olympic Test Events

2006/11/30

The first two Olympic test events  were held in Beijing and Qingdao in 2006. All of the two events’ preparation and operations met Olympic standards. The two cities won praise from International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials, foreign athletes and the media for their excellent preparations for the 2008 Olympics. Beautiful and novel competition venues, comfortable accommodations, considerate services, the advanced technologies used in safety inspections, and the events’ smiling volunteers left visitors and participants with strong impressions.

The 11th International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Softball Championship, the first Olympic test event in Beijing, was held from August–September at the new Fengtai Softball Field, making it the first new Olympic-specific venue in Beijing to be completed and put to use. More than 900 athletes from 15 countries took part in the tournament, and the top five teams from the United States, Japan, Australia, China and Canada are automatically qualified for the women’s softball event at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Qingdao, a Yellow Sea port city in East China’s Shandong Province, is the venue for the 29th Sailing Regatta of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its first Olympic test event was the Good Luck Beijing 2006 Qingdao International Regatta, which was held in August 2006. More than 300 boats and 456 athletes from 40 nations or regions participated in 11 events in nine classes. David Tillett, vice-president of the International Sailing Federation, praised the novel Qingdao Olympic venue, especially its breakwater, from which spectators are able to view sailing competitions. Tillett suggested improving cooperation between International Technical Officers and National Technical Officers during events after the competition, but otherwise said he was satisfied with Qingdao’s preparations.



 
*