In preparation for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games less than four years away, Chinese officials are advising Beijing 2008 on how the Games could be improved.
Beijing’s Mayor Wang Qishan is worried that the 2008 Games might suffer from overblown expectations, unruly Chinese fans and poorly planned construction, reports the Associated Press.
He told the weekly newspaper Southern Weekend, “these kinds of expectations should be treated as a burden”.
The Mayor also criticized construction plans, arguing that the National Stadium under construction should serve more uses. For now it’s slated to hold the Opening and Closing ceremonies, as well as track and field events. Wang said it should also host soccer games.
He has already ordered organizers to scale back construction plans, calling for a “frugal” Olympics, but told the newspaper that cost-cutting means the main stadium will be roofless – a danger if it rains.
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao chaired a meeting held by the State Council Wednesday, urging for thrifty preparation for the Games.
Following a report on the preparation of Beijing 2008, the meeting urged officials to tighten their supervision of funds for Olympic projects and to ensure their qualities.
The meeting said urban transport and telecom construction and air pollution control should be strengthened.
Members of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – the advisory body to the municipal government – had some advice on how to hold a “People’s Olympics” in 2008, one of the concepts for the 2008 Games.
Yang Tieli, a member of the Jiu San Society, a non-Communist party, advised promoting education about the Olympics to residents, especially students and service sector workers.
He also advised setting up courses on Olympic knowledge at sports colleges and sports departments of universities, and carrying out lessons for people engaged in Beijing service sectors, especially taxi drivers. Volunteers for the Games were urged to receive education and foreign language training.
Another Jiu San Society member, Cao Li, advised providing food of various tastes, and urged multi-language services. She advised strengthening facility construction for disabled people and senior citizens during the event.
