The central government leadership has asked rising political star Xi Jinping to oversee preparations for the Olympic Games amid the intensifying global attention focusing on air pollution in Beijing and human rights issues, sources said.
Previously, Liu Qi , Beijing party secretary and a Politburo member, was the central government's point man in handling the complex preparatory work involving dozens of government departments, ministries and provinces.
Sources said the appointment of Mr Xi, a new Politburo Standing Committee member, did not reflect on Mr Liu's work and he still played a key role. Rather, Mr Xi's new responsibilities were aimed at showing the world the Games had the highest level government attention as preparations entered the last stretch before the August 8 opening ceremony.
The move comes after reports that Mr Xi has been put in charge of the symbolic preparations for the 30th anniversary of the mainland's reform and open-door policies.
Following his election to the nine-member Politburo Standing Committee, Mr Xi, 54, is widely perceived as the heir apparent to succeed Hu Jintao as Communist Party chief in 2012 and state president in 2013.
Placing him in charge of the nation's two most important and most symbolic events this year is not only a strong indication of his rising political fortunes but is also apparently designed to test his leadership and organisational capabilities.