- Title: CHINA/FILE: Chinese Olympic host cities say they are ready for Beijing 2008 games
- Date: 18th July 2008
- Summary: (W2) SHANGHAI, CHINA (JULY 17, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SHANGHAI STADIUM (ONE OF THE VENUES FOR OLYMPIC FOOTBALL MATCHES) SIGN OF BEIJING OLYMPICS SIGN OF BEIJING OLYMPICS AND SHANGHAI STADIUM FOOTBALL PITCH IN STADIUM WORKERS NEAR GOAL POST TELEVISION SCREEN INSIDE STADIUM SCREEN SHOWING COUNTDOWN OF 22 DAYS TO BEIJING OLYMPICS, AND 21 DAYS TO OLYMPIC FOOTBALL MATCH IN SHANGHAI (SOME FOOTBALL MATCHES START BEFORE THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES) OFFICIALS INSIDE STADIUM
- Embargoed: 2nd August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA47OZFZJSBV7H3SKK87U6E96YN
- Story Text: Officials from Olympics host cities gather in Beijing to deliver the message -- "We are ready".
With only 21 days left before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, host cities outside Beijing are wrapping up their Olympic preparations.
Qingdao, the host city for the Olympic Games sailing competition from August 9-23 has 11 events. Some 400 athletes from 65 countries are scheduled to compete in the sailing events.
Authorities say they have cleared a massive algae carpet that threatened the Olympic Games sailing venue at a coastal resort.
The picturesque seaside city in northern China's Shandong province had been embarrassed by the unsightly algae that left swathes of offshore waters green and disrupted training for a number of Olympic sailing teams ahead of next month's Games.
In a press conference held by the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee, officials from Olympic host cities sat together to brief reporters on their latest preparation of the coming games.
Zang Aimin, vice mayor of Qingdao, said the algae had been cleared.
"The algae in the sea and around the venues has been cleared.
Qingdao has altogether more than 550 athletes from 46 countries training here.
At the moment, there are still more than 100 ships with sailors from 33 countries training in the city. They are not affected," Zang said.
Chen Qiwei, spokesman from the Shanghai Municipal Government, said police have deployed troops to patrol, in addition to detailed security protection plans.
"Shanghai has been having anti-terrorism and anti-riot exercises.
We will have the army coming in and assisting us with Olympic security work.
During the games, the Nanjing Military base together with the Shanghai police will cooperate to take charge of security," Chen said.
Recently, China's Vice President Xi Jinping said security is the single most important factor in hosting a successful Olympics.
China has long identified terrorism as the biggest threat to the Games and state media last week said police had shot dead five people who wanted to wage "holy war" in the troubled western region of Xinjiang, home to 8 million Muslim Uighurs.
Lam Woon-Kong, chief executive officer of the Equestrian Company, said for Hong Kong, food safety was also high on agenda.
"Food safety is of high priority. Our food authorities have been working with the hotels and the caterers to uphold the highest hygiene standard for meals to be served to Olympic participants," Lam said.
Hong Kong will deploy up to 4,000 police officers to secure the city's Olympic equestrian events next month, although the overall security threat is deemed moderate, according a senior police officer.
Hong Kong will host the Olympics equestrian events from August 9-21 after Beijing failed to establish a disease-free zone for horses. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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