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Alvin Sallay

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch is pressing China to bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

 An anticipated bid by China was described as important not only for China but also for the entire Olympic movement by Samaranch yesterday.

 Samaranch also stated that the IOC would not oppose a Chinese bid which might include Hong Kong as a venue to host some of the events during the Summer Games in 2008.

 'From the IOC point of view, I know that there will be many people who would be pleased and happy if China were to bid for the 2008 Games. It would be very important not only for China but also for the Olympic movement,' said Samaranch speaking during a brief stopover in Hong Kong.

 His candid comment is seen as encouragement and support for China to press ahead and put in another bid for the Olympics - and forget their disappointment at losing the 2000 Olympic Games to Sydney by a margin of two votes.

 The IOC president said that there had been no official announcement of a bid from China as yet.

 The deadline for cities keen to host the 2008 Games is February, 2000. The decision will be taken in 2001.

 'The only statement from China is that they are studying in a positive way the possibility of organising the Games. They have not taken a final decision as yet,' said Samaranch.

 Samaranch added: 'Even when I asked them if they bid for the Games, which city would host it, they said they don't know . . . maybe Beijing or Shanghai.'  Earlier this week, the president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Wu Shaozu, said Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou were the cities being considered for a possible bid.

 'If we have a chance, then we will bid for the 2008 Olympic Games,' said Wu.

 Hong Kong's Olympic chief Timothy Fok has stated previously that the SAR would be keen to be part of an Olympic bid by China. Sports leaders have been pressing the Hong Kong Government to build a world-class stadium at either the Kai Tak or Kowloon West new development areas.

 'We want to go for it. But obviously we have to wait and see what the Chinese Central Government decides first. We can't pre-empt anything,' a source close to the Fok camp told Sports Post yesterday.

 Samaranch said the IOC would have no qualms about a joint bid which included Hong Kong.

 'In principle there would be no problem if Hong Kong were to be part of the bid. The only necessity is that there must be a main city for the opening and closing ceremonies and for the major events. But some other sports can be held in Hong Kong,' said Samaranch.

 'In the end it must be China's decision. If they want to hold some sports in Hong Kong, the IOC will have nothing against that proposal,' he added.

 China, stung by losing out to Sydney at the 1993 IOC session in Monaco, did not put in a bid for the 2004 Games, which was won by Athens.

 But there is a very strong possibility that they could come forward for 2008.

 According to Samaranch, a number of cities have expressed interest in holding the Games. They are: Osaka, Toronto, Seville, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Paris and a city each in South Africa and the United States.

 'These are all expressions of interest and not official bids as yet,' said Samaranch.

 Samaranch was guest at a dinner hosted by Fok before leaving for Zurich.



'In principle there would be no problem if Hong Kong were part of the bid'