Vice Mayor of Beijing and BOCOG Executive Vice-President Liu Jingmin makes a speech.
(BEIJING, January 4) -- The organizing committee for three "Good Luck Beijing" sport events to be held at the National Aquatics Center in the first half of 2008 was formed on Friday.
The National Aquatics Center is an important venue for the Beijing Olympic Games, second only to the National Stadium.
To examine its capabilities for the Olympic swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events, which will produce a total of 42 gold medals, the center will hostthe "Good Luck Beijing" Swimming China Open from January 31 to February 5, the 16th FINA Diving World Cup 2008 from February 19 to 24, and the 2008 Olympic Games Synchronized Swimming Qualification Tournament from April 16 to 20.
Lu Yong, director of BOCOG Venue Management Department chairs the meeting.
In his speech at the launching ceremony, Beijing Vice-Mayor and BOCOG Executive Vice-President Liu Jingmin urged the venue operation team to attach great importance to the preparatory work for the sport events. The center, dubbed the "Water Cube," contains a unique membrane structure. It is the only Olympic venue to be funded by donations from Chinese compatriots as well as overseas Chinese, attracting attention from various parties, Liu reminded listeners. In addition, these events, as they will produce the second largest number of gold medals during the Olympics, will be covered by world TV broadcasters to cater to millions of fans. As such, the operation team needs to treat any problems with effective solutions, he added.
Committee President Li Aiqing takes the floor.
Expressing the hope that the Good Luck beijing sport events will be held at the Olympic level, Liu urged the organizers to enter the venue as early as possible, to test the functions of the facilities and beef up the operational scheme. A sound command system must be formed for the demands of the events and for its application during the Olympic Games, he stressed.
Currently, the preparations for the events, including their competition schedules, media operations, personnel assignments and logistics are progressing as scheduled.
Scene of the meeting
The managerial level venue operation officials and managers of various positions have been assigned and more than 2,000 volunteers have been recruited. The latter will soon engage in extensive venue and position-oriented training.
