Reports say that about 50 inspectors and officials from Beijing, including politicians, bureaucrats, and engineers, split into groups, and inspected Sydney’s Olympic facilities, taking notes and studying the Olympic Games.
Liu Jingmin, a Beijing vice mayor and deputy executive president of the city’s 2008 bid committee said, “the whole of China is learning new things, constantly changing itself. Look back eight years, and then look at today, you can’t deny that China is totally different, and we still have another eight years”.
The officials say foreign reporters, now carefully monitored and restricted in China, will be invited to China and would be free to roam. Also an Olympics would help produce a more open, socially advanced and environmentally friendly China and foster greater understanding between the very different cultures of East and West.
The medals Chinese athletes will take back has reaffirmed China’s position as Asia’s sporting power, and may help its 2008 bid.
Sixteen international companies submitted bids to plan Beijing’s Olympic complex, and foreign enterprises will also be allowed to bid for construction of Olympic venues if Beijing hosts the 2008 Games, said Liu.
He said Beijing also wants to tap into foreign financing.
