Games chiefs hail Beijing's preparations, but admit air quality is still an issue
The International Olympic Committee gave Beijing a final stamp of approval yesterday - but its 'gold standard' accolade failed to sparkle in the smog-bound capital.
The Olympics chiefs, making their final inspection of the host city before the Games begin on August 8, said they had underlying confidence the event would be a success.
'Here in the Chinese capital you can now really sense the excitement and anticipation. The quality of preparation, the readiness of the venues and the attention to operational detail for these Games have set a gold standard for the future,' Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC's co-ordination commission, concluded at the end of a two-day meeting with the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Bocog).
But as Mr Verbruggen gave his last glowing report card, flanked by Bocog president Liu Qi , during the opening of the main press and international broadcast centres for the Games, the Olympic Village around them, and its iconic stadiums, were veiled in smog.
'A very small number of open issues remain, such as ... our need to see how temporary measures in the city will make an impact on air quality,' Mr Verbruggen admitted.
