International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge wrote Liu Qi, head of the Beijing Communist Party, acknowledging the IOC’s support for Beijing’s fight against SARS.
Rogge wrote, “The IOC is paying great attention to the updates regarding this epidemic. The (IOC) would like to express its support to you and your team at the Beijing Organising Committee as you all strive to cope with the current unfortunate SARS situation in China. “We are very much aware that Beijing has taken a strong stance in the effort to contain this virus and we applaud your diligence in this matter”.
Also, Hein Verbruggen, head of the IOC’s coordination committee for Beijing 2008, expressed his concerns and the cancellation of several visits by the IOC to Beijing because of SARS.
He wrote, “unavoidably, some visits between the BOGOC and the IOC personnel have had to be postponed as have the pending emblem and marketing program launch events”.
Both Rogge and Verbruggen praised Beijing’s efforts in controlling SARS and expressed confidence in the city’s ability to stage a “great Olympic Games in 2008”.
