Press conference: Olympic Family gathers in Beijing

Foreign reporter

I have 2 questions. China is a very rich cultural country and I'm sure that tourists would like to go to many of these places. What recommendation can BOCOG give for tourists to visit historical sites like the Great Wall of China for example? The second is about the pollution. What has the Olympic Committee and BOCOG done to avoid pollution because we are just 4 days away? We just got here yesterday and we've looked at the sky this morning. It is just by sight that we can see the pollution in the air. Can we do something 4 days away from the start of the Olympic Games and if not, what have been done to avoid the problem? Thank you

Sun Weide

You are very right. China is a country of long civilization. We have rich culture. We hope that the holding of the Olympic Games in Beijing will provide an opportunity for people in other countries to know more about China. And also this is a way of exchange of people in China and other countries, so that the media friends and tourists of other countries will have the opportunity to visit historical and cultural sites. In addition to watching the Olympic Games, For instance, the Beijing Tourist Administration has planned a half day tour. We have a very tight schedule during the Olympic Games. The half day tour is for the media to visit the Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, etc.

As for the air pollution, maybe you know here, the government of Beijing has done a lot about controlling pollution. You may not be aware of that, maybe you just arrived here. I will give you brief information.

Over the past ten years the Beijing government has taken over 200 measures to improve the air quality. For instance, we are now making great effort to encourage people to use green energy, like natural gas. In 1998, the first time we monitor the air quality. At that time, the use of natural gas is 0.3 billion cubic meters. Last year, it was 4.7 billion cubic meters.

The standard we have aligned our requirement for the vehicle emission with the European standards. We have eliminated 50,000 taxies and 10,000 buses, heavier polluting buses, which are replaced with new one. 200 polluting companies have been closed down or relocated. So a series of measures have been taken to improve the air quality in China.

In 1998, there were only 100 days up to standard days. Last year, we have 246 days which are up to the standard. Since the beginning of the year, we have taken more stringent measures which achieved good result. From July last year, the concentration of the carbon monoxide has been reduced by 15%. And the nitrogen dioxide has been reduced by 27% and inhalable particulates have been reduced by 24%. So by this time we have already had 149 days of good weather, counting for 70% of them we had last year. From July 1, good result has been achieved so we can guarantee a good quality air. Thank you.

Reporter from Spain

I am from Spain. I would like to ask question to Mr. Wang to see if you could possibly confirm for us the different embassies from all the different countries in Beijing. They have been receiving calls because China believes that they are going to receive 100 heads of state at the Opening Ceremony. They have received a lot of phone calls. Could you please further elaborate on this issue?

Wang Shilin

Olympiad is held every four years, which has become even more popular among the international community. The representative and head of governments in states, are on the raise with each of the games, which shows the great influence of the Olympiad. Before the start of Beijing Olympics, We set up BOCOG and international dignitary reception coordination center, which will be responsible for the reception of the international dignitaries. We have also received great support from foreign embassies. Currently, the work is going on in an orderly manner. Now we have 4 days to go before the opening of the Games. The foreign embassies in China are now having a good communication channel with our reception center as well as foreign ministries so that we can provide quality reception for those international dignitaries.

Reuters

I have a follow up question about pollution. I knew you just explain the general situation. But I want to ask more specifically. After a very nice weekend, we woke up today to see low visibility which is normally a sign of pollution. We know we only have blue sky index from mid night Saturday to mid night Sunday. But I was just wondering if you could tell us what the air quality is like today so far and what the weather is likely to mean for dispersing that air pollution and forecast for light breezes, and hot temperatures, which is normally a bad combination. How much worse pollution we need to get for the emergency measures announced last week to kick in. And also just follow up on my colleague's question. Do you have any estimate of how many heads of the states will be attending the opening ceremony? Thank you very much.

Sun Weide

For your first question, it is unfortunate that we don't have the spokesperson from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau. I just had a talk with the officials from the Meteorological Bureau. According to their forecast, today's air quality is grade 2. The pollution index is below 100. And also the question of air quality is caused by many factors. Of course there are pollutants and also the meteorological conditions, as you may have noticed, the humidity is very high, which reduced the visibility.

As you said, which kind of situation will need the emergency plan and obviously, today's index is grade 2, which do not need the emergency plan. As I said earlier, that we can guarantee we can provide good air quality to the athletes, officials and spectators. Based on the measures and results we have achieved with those measures we have taken over the past ten years. We will continue the improvement of the air quality. As I said, we have 149 days of very good weather, above grade 2 weather. Based on all the factors, we are confident with the air quality during the Olympic Games.

Wang Shilin

For your second question, I noticed that you are really paying attention to this matter, as for how many dignitaries will come, as I told you before, we are waiting for the exact figure. But we are expecting they will be more than that in the previous Games, and that is for sure.

Guangming Daily

Currently, Mr. Wang, do you know how many delegations have checked in the Olympic Village, you said you have the international relations team, and you have meeting everyday. So what are the questions raised during the meeting? And how do you solve the problems if you meet any difficulties?

Wang Shilin

As I told you, currently we have NOCs and they are entitled to send athletes and delegations to take part in the Olympics, so we have 120 delegations, and up to now we have 177 NOCs who have checked in the Olympics village. 158 NOCs are already staying at the Olympic Village. and 56 teams have checked in Qingdao Village. For equestrian in Hong Kong, of the 43 delegations accredited, 33 have checked in Hong Kong Village.

As for officials and athletes of NOCs, they have many questions and we have a mechanism to solve the questions and problems they have encountered since their arrival. Since July 7, almost every morning, we hold the meeting, and officials of NOCs can ask questions and raise issues. We have these meetings in the NOC service center. They talk about the welcome service, transport and food all issue. Sometimes, for concrete issues they can raise questions, for example, the opening of the Games, what time they should leave the Olympic Village. I am confident that during the Games, at the Village, we can provide very high quality service to the NOCs.

USA Today

Following up on your response on the air quality, as you said today is a grade 2, I am just wondering for those of us who haven't set on the air quality, if you can describe what the scale is, if it is a one to five or one to ten, also, what grade does it need in order for Olympiads to run the marathon? Thank you

Sun Weide

First of all, the air quality, as I told you, today is grade 2. This is a scale established by the Meteorological Bureau and they told us today is a grade 2. It is statistic figure according to the past 24 hours and they measure the carbon dioxide for example, and they have to wait until noon so at 12 o'clock, they can tell you the exact figure, maybe at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., I can give you more exact figure to show the exact figure of the past 24 hours. If API is below 100, we always say it is grade 2, if it is not below grade 2, it is good enough for outdoor sports events. If it is grade 3, it is slightly polluted weather. So with all the efforts we have been taking, I am confident that during the Games, I can assure a good air quality.

Yomiuri Shimbun

Two questions. One, do you have any information regarding Iraqi athletes? Whether you issued visa already and accreditation and exactly when they are arriving in Beijing? Secondly, just a follow up on the fraud ticketing sales, was there in the past within the BOCOG or the Chinese authorities, the cautious or awareness or at least some strategy to stop this kind of fraudulence?

Wang Shilin

First of all, the Iraq athletes, if I remember well, 4 days ago, IOC officially announced that Iraq will take part in the Beijing Games.

Sun Weide

Yes, indeed, BOCOG also welcome Iraqi athletes, we will do our best to facilitate their participation so they can also take part in the Games. As for the tickets, as I said before, we still have to verify the information with the concerning NOC, who are in charge of the ticketing. So we have to contact them.

Aroundtherings.com

Would you tell us more about the cultural events which will take place on the Tian'anmen Square for the Olympic Family members and when they might take place?

Sun Weide

I don't know the agenda of the VIPs. During the Games, at Tian'anmen Square, there will be very colorful and various cultural activities. As you may have noticed, there were cultural events on Tian'anmen Square not long ago, with shows performed by foreign delegations and groups not long ago.

Beijing Youth Daily

I would like to ask you if the Chinese leaders are going to receive all the foreign dignitaries?

Wang Shilin

As I said before, the international dignitaries have been scheduled by the relevant bodies or communities, the coordination team, so there will be a few visits with the Chinese leaders.

ABC online, Australia

Mr. Sun, there is a report on Chinese national media, that 16 police have been killed in Xinjiang, in the north west of China, what is the impact that might have on security preparation of the Games?

Sun Weide

I am not aware of the events in Xinjiang you are referring to. I have to ask the police department there. Beijing Municipality and BOCOG really attached high importance to the coordination during the Games, we have coordination department. We also consulted all the cities which organized all the previous Games. To be inspired from their experience, as for the main sites, and Olympic Village, we've been going through thorough preparation and with the help with the international community, we are confident that we will have a very peaceful Olympics.

We are closing this press conference, I would like to announce, that tomorrow at 11 a.m., we will have a press conference on the music of the award ceremonies, opening and closing ceremonies during the Olympics and Paralympics. Welcome to join us, thank you.