Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) coordination commission for the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, said in his report to the 116th IOC Session, that it was “very ambitious and perhaps even a bit too early” for Beijing to complete venue construction for the 2008 Games by the end of 2006.
He said, “we should not forget that venues would then be ready 20 months before the Games and this might turn out to be rather expensive in terms of maintenance with a limited use during such a long period”.
He added that to slow down in venue construction, and therefore limit costs and expenses, would be fully in line with the cost-control principle adopted by the IOC since 2002.
Verbruggen added, “venue construction should be finished at least one year before August 2008 when the Games take place”.
Commenting on the report IOC president Jacques Rogge said, “this is the first time in my Olympic life that I have heard about the host city needs to delay their venue construction”.
