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The International Olympic Committee praised Beijing Games organisers today for setting the scene for what promised to be a successful Games and a senior official said it might even seem over-organised.
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“For our (western) taste it may be a bit too over-organised but that is in their culture,” Hein Verbruggen, the IOC’s chief inspector for the Beijing Games, told an international sports conference. “They do not want any surprises.”
Verbruggen said all the venues were spectacular and Beijing would be a hard act to follow for London, which will stage the 2012 Olympics.
“I don’t know if there are any people from London here but they will have a challenge,” Verbruggen said. “The venues will be spectacular.”
Verbruggen also praised the growing enthusiasm within China for the Games and said the Chinese were frustrated with western attacks over Beijing’s policy in Tibet, Sudan and its human rights record.
Pro-Tibet and human rights demonstrations accompanied the international leg of the Beijing torch relay earlier this year.
“Only gradually, progressively, I have learned how much the population is behind it. The enthusiasm for the Games at the level of the population is phenomenal,” Verbruggen said.
He said the Chinese did not understand why their country was criticised, especially by western media.
“It is not understood on the level of the population. They are saying ‘we offer something to the world and they refuse it?'”
“There is a pretty biased perception in the West about China. There is some fear. It is a fascinating country and there is a lot to be learned from China by us.”
Verbruggen said despite growing criticism of the IOC’s position on China, the Olympic movement would not mix sports with politics when it came to the Games.
Activist groups and human rights organisations have long accused the IOC of doing little to press Beijing to improve human rights ahead of the Aug. 8-24 Olympics despite such pledges by the Chinese when they were awarded the Games.
“That is a no. The IOC is a non-political organisation. We do not do that and we will never do that.
“I am absolutely convinced that bringing the Games to China is way better than not giving the Games to China. The Games are certainly, for China, a force for good.”
Verbruggen said China’s long-term strategy was to open up to the world through the Olympics.
“I will never say that the Games will change China but the changes will definitely be there,” he said. “Their strategy is to further open their country.”
He said the Games opening ceremony would also be a unique event.
“If they (viewers) knew how the opening ceremony will be, (the TV audience) would be five billion,” he said. “You all have to watch. It will be something.”