Beijing Mayor Liu Qi, president of Beijing’s 2008 Olympic bid, announced Tuesday that the century-old Prince Jun’s Palace would be used as the Olympian Reunion Center if Beijing wins the right to host the 2008 Games.
Liu made the announcement at a gala dinner where almost half of all the Chinese Olympic champians and representatives of the World Olympians Association (WOA) gathered to celebrate the upcoming International Olympic Day on June 23.
Liu said the palace “will have 60 rooms and will house close-circuit television programming for all Olympic events. And cultural events, entertainmment, a multilingual interpretation service, postal services, medical center and ticket services are all planned for this facility”.
The palace is located in Chaoyang Park, 15 minutes drive from the planned Olympic Park where a majority of the events will be held.
Liu added, “during the Games, free public transportation will be provided to all the Olympians and regular shuttle bus service between the palace and Olympic venues will be available”.
Liston Bochette, secretary general of the WOA said, “to put it frankly, we are very pleased that Beijing is committed and understand the value of the Olympians, including competing athletes as well as those who have retired. What we see here is the embracement of the Olympians. We are very pleased with that”, he added.
Xu Haifeng, a shooter who won the first Olympic gold medal for China, read a letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee on behalf of all the Chinese Olympic champions. The letter said, “we firmly believe that Beijing could organize an excellent Games, and it will leave a unique legacy to China and sport. We would also tell all athletes in the world that Beijing will provide the best conditions for you to compete”.
