Venues for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games were not damaged from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit in China’s Sichuan province killing more than 8,500 people.
Giselle Davies, spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that an appraisal showed no damage to more than 30 venues scheduled to host events during the August Games.
Sun Weide, deputy director for the Olympic media and communications department, told Agence-France Presse, “they (the venues) are earthquake proof to a high degree and no damage was done”. Sun said that Beijing’s location in an earthquake zone was taken into account during the construction of Olympic venues including the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center.
Liu Jiulin, an engineer for the National Stadium, was conducting a side inspection when the quake struck. He said the building was designed to suppress earthquakes.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge wrote to Chinese President Hu Jintao expressing his concern and extended the support of the IOC and the entire Olympic Movement to the country’s President and the Chinese people. He said, “we send our deepest felt condolences for the victims. The Olympic Movement is at your side, especially during these difficult moments. Our thoughts are with you”.
Later in the day on hearing of the reported rising death toll he said, “this appears to be a major disaster, the scale of which is only just becoming apparent. I feel deeply for those affected and join in solidarity with the people of China”.
The IOC also sent messages to the President of the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee, Lui Qi and to his staff.
