Beijing is ready for the world

Beijing - host city for the 2008 Olympic Games has indicated it's readiness to host the world's most popular event.
Addressing delegates at the 71st Annual Congress of the Association of International Press Sports, (AIPS) Mr Liu Jiuming, Deputy Mayor of Beijing said preparations for the event has hit major milestone and the City will be ready with the necessary facilities come August.
Mr Liu said the City has completed work on the 37 competition venues and 56 training venues pencilled to host the 28 disciplines at the event.
The Deputy Mayor said the City has also conducted 44 out of the 46 test events ahead of the games successfully with the last two scheduled for July.
He added that all modern equipment with the required specifications for each of the disciplines have also been secured and "these are clear indications that, our City is ever ready to accommodate the rest of the world."
He said they are however leaving no stone unturned to ensure that finishing touches are put in place in due time.
Mr Liu said construction of the Media and Olympic Village have reached an advanced level with their completion expected by the close of July.
He said the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympics Games (BOCOG) would on July 10, organise a dressed rehearsal for the opening ceremony, which is also aimed at whipping enthusiasm among the populace.
Mr Liu said other programmes have been initiated by the BOCOG in schools and other institutions of learning to educate the people on the upcoming event.
This, he said, is evident in the fact that 1.13 million people applied to serve as volunteers during the games but only 500,000 have so far been selected to provide special services to people at the Games.
He, however, assured the delegates that problems of air pollution was being given the necessary attention as scientific measures have been employed to ensure air quality before and during the Games.
Mr Liu said the City is also putting in place high level media facilities for the Games as well as 7000 room Media Village for practitioners during the event.
He assured the media that efforts will be made for their smooth operations during the Olympic Games.
On security issues, he noted that "China is safe for the event. We have no problem with security".