The International Olympic Committee (IOC) distributed a statement during the meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) saying that the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee (IOC) is making good progress in all fields of Games preparation. Hein Verbruggen, the IOC’s chief inspector for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games said, “we therefore look to the path to 2008 with great confidence”.
Verbruggen praised Beijing’s “strong” management team and said construction was going to plan, reports Reuters. “Work on major transport infrastructure is also progressing well”, he said.
Reuters reports that Beijing has earmarked more than $40 billion to improve the city’s infrastructure and tackle pollution before the Games open in August 2008. Games officials confirmed the cost of the operational budget would be higher than what was estimated in the bid, which was about $1.6 billion.
Tu Mingde, BOCOG president assistant told Reuters, “the preparations have been going smoothly and well on schedule”. He said all venues would be completed around the end of 2007 to allow time for testing, adding the Games cost would also rise.
He said Beijing’s marketing plan was already close to meeting its target with 11 international sponsors, 11 domestic sponsors and nine suppliers signed up.
