Press conference: 'Beijing is ready'

Beijing Youth Daily

Which part of the preparations that you are most happy with?

Wang Wei

What really makes me happy is the opportunity that has been offered to China so that the world has a very big opportunity to know China. The Chinese people can participate in the world. That is to my most satisfaction. From the ticketing service, you can see the enthusiasm of spectators in China and around the world. Also, people from the world pay huge attention to the Olympic Games. We have a lot of heads of state and VIPS around the world. They are so interested in China. This is a very good platform for people around the world to communicate and exchange their friendship with Chinese people. And we have many volunteers and citizens welcoming all of you to Beijing. That is also what I'm satisfied about.

I think I worry about the following things. China is a developing country and Beijing is a developing city. We want to be perfect, but we are far from perfect because we are still in the developing stage. And maybe we can't fully reflect our enthusiasm and friendship to the people around the world. For instance, the other journalist mentioned about the taxi services. I have to say that we have prepared for a very long time, but the taxi drivers try to learn English, but their English level is still quite limited. We try to solve all the problems, but we are far from perfect. From the hardware perspective, we are ready. But from software services, I think we are still far from perfect. But we've tried our best.

Voice of Strait Broadcasting Station

From hardware, software to infrastructures, what type of improvements you have made in the process of preparing the Olympic Games?

Wang Wei

In China, I think the Olympic Games really help to accelerate a great deal. In terms of sports venues, I think we have the first class sports venues in the world. Mr Samaranch once made an observation. For the Bird's Nest and the Water Cubic, he said he has never seen such beautiful venues. We are also receiving the same response and feedback from our athletes and all kinds of client groups. Transport for airports and all facilities have been improved dramatically. For the software, I think they are also improving. For example, we have a campaign. We tried to be civilized, to have good manner. Good manner in driving, greeting, watching the games, etc. That will be a big legacy for the Olympic Games. It's not only a benefit for friends from all over the world but also a benefit for our own people. I can see myself the driving manners have been improved a lot. China is a developing country. People learn to drive not from childhood. And also, there are so many new cars and new drivers. They have to learn. With the Olympic Games coming to Beijing, they learn to behave much better. I'm very happy. This is just an example. For other things like you are going to the shop, you stand in queue waiting for a bus, I think people are getting better in their manners, in their improvement, in service standards and levels.

American reporter

There are so much anticipation for tonight's Opening Ceremony. I'm trying to find out what kind of contingency plans are in place in case it does shower or thunderstorm tonight.

Wang Wei

I think we have contingency plan for temporary shower and rain, or drizzle. I think for drizzle, everything will just continue. During our second rehearsal, we have some kind of rain, but the performance continued. If the rain gets heavier, it will be modified. I'm not the designer, not the director, so I can only tell that roughly, we have contingency plans for 3 kinds of scenarios. So I think we are ready, whatever happens, the Opening Ceremony will continue, we will be faithful for our spectators all over the world. Thank you.

ONS

The first question, Beijing also held the Asian Games in 1990. I'm wondering if you can tell me some of the differences and similarities in terms of themes, purposes, expectations for Beijing and China comparing to the Olympic Games now and the Asian Games then?

Wang Wei

Compared with the Asian Games, we are now more mature, we are more ready to the world. The Asian Games was held in 1990. Our opening-up started in 1978. Now it's after 30 years of the reform and opening up. So China is more open in terms of economic development and social progress, we are very much advanced. So we are more eager to be in touch with the outside world. That's what you can see from our theme slogan "One World One Dream". We just want to be closely in touch with the world. In terms of enthusiasm, I would say that there is a saying, that Chinese people are always passionate in welcoming friends from all over the world. That doesn't change and I think you can feel it for yourself wherever you go and whatever you do. Whenever you raised your request, you'll be satisfied. If it's not, there must be a reason behind it. We can still make improvement.

ONS

Yesterday, it was revealed that the theme song will be sung by Liu Huan and Sarah Brightman. I know that Liu Huan also sang the theme song in 1990 in the Asian Games. What are your personally feelings about the choice of Liu Huan?

Wang Wei

I think it's a very good choice. He is very international, because the Games are international. We want to not only showcase the culture and history of China, but also be international and understandable to our friends of the world. He speaks very good English. He can sing very beautiful English songs as wells as Chinese songs.

AFP

I'd like to ask you about the latest video released overnight from the Islamic separatists. Whether there has been any stepping up of security in light of that? And, SBS has been barred from the Opening Ceremony tonight. Why that decision was made?

Wang Wei

Security is always the top job for the Olympic organizers. It's same all over the world. The Games concern not only the Chinese people, people from Beijing. We also have distinguish guests from all over the world. We spare no efforts in terms of making a safe Games. Besides hardware, the security force have been reinforced. We also share the intelligence with the world intelligent agencies. Nevertheless we want to make the Games pleasant, a relax because it's a festival for people who come over to the Games. How to strike a balance is our challenge. We are trying to do a good job in this regards.

With regards to SBS, I don't know, it is not my decision. We want to stress that not only TV network or broadcasters, we do have to have the ethics standard. We should respect the rights of other fellow broadcasters. And we have to go by the rules. In fact, only by that can we have good collaboration, good society, a good Games to be enjoyed.

AP

You spoke about the necessity to go by the rules. Broadcasters here in a couple of months ago were rebelling quite hard to get the rules established about what they can cover and what they can't cover. 7 years ago, you promised that we would be free to come here and cover China like in any other Olympics. In the light that broadcasters are having problems in certain venues, how does that with your promise for reporting? And also the problem with the internet, which there are many many sites blocked despite what BOCOG has said.

Wang Wei

I think you are free to cover the Games and free to cover everything in China. I think you have the freedom to walk around everywhere. No one will prevent you from going anywhere. In terms of the internet, I think we're providing access to all kinds of websites. However in other countries, we want to make sure that they would not jeopardize security of the country, the healthy growth of our young kids. In terms of services, we are striving to provide good services for the media. We understand fully the importance of media coverage. If there is any specific question you want to address. I would be very happy to discuss with you. But from our part, our intension is to provide good access for your coverage of the Games, of everything that you have an interest in.

Aroundtherings.com

Do you have any exact figures about how many dignitaries and heads of state are expected tonight at the Opening Ceremony?

Wang Wei

The number of dignitaries, heads of state, royal families is changing in a way. I think it will be nearly 90 tonight. For the closing ceremony, it will be above 100.

NPR

You said a moment ago that we are free to go and talk to whoever we want. Yesterday I went to Beida (Peking University), and I tried to go inside. I was turned away. My understanding is, from all I've ever read, that most of the universities here in the city are sealed off to people who are not students. And I was told it's for security reasons. Could you explain why we are not allowed to go into those universities? And it's about security, what kind of a threat do foreign journalist pose to universities in Beijing?

Wang Wei

I don't know what's going on in Beida. If you ask me all of a sudden a specific university, a unit, I can not answer promptly. Sometimes they may have an occasion. For example, at one point, I have a friend who works in Queens College of the City University of New York and he lived in Beida. I wanted to see him, but I was blocked. My car can not go in, then I learned that some distinguished guest from IBM was in Beida giving a lecture. So I talked to people, he is giving a lecture in Beida, but why shouldn't we go in? So sometimes those kinds of things you never know. What I am saying is it may not be a big thing. So if you go to Beida today, I think you will not have a problem. Maybe the guards at the gate don't understand the situation. But I don't think there is any reason for people to go to Beida. You see, Beida has a lot of international students, everywhere you walk, you see international students, maybe the most in Beijing. Thank you.

KBS

The highlight of the Opening Ceremony is the lightening of the Olympic cauldron. Who is the last runner of the torch relay and how is it going to be lighted? Can we have the detailed information regarding the torch?

Wang Wei

Honestly, I don't know myself although I'm one of the executive vice president of BOCOG. The core team of the design of the Opening Ceremony is determined to give a surprise to the world. We held three rehearsals, they never expose the lighting of the cauldron. That is meant to be a surprise. Hopefully people will like it.

ABC

The President of the Australian Olympic Commission John Coates said this morning the venues, the Village and the staff have exceeded his expectation. He was disappointed that some of the pre-Olympic promises, in particular, access to the internet, hadn't been met. Can I get your reaction to those comments? In doing so, can you tell us if you've been disappointed by the international media coverage in the recent lead up to the Games?

Wang Wei

That is a surprise for me. I think the internet access is good except a few things I mentioned earlier, for security reasons, for the healthy of the growth of the kids, the pornography and etc. are blocked like in any other countries. I'm a good friend of John Coates. After you mentioned his name, I would like to talk to him personally, to seek his advice, to see if we can make further the improvement to do a better job.

Sun Weide

Before we conclude this press conference, I have a short announcement. At 11 o'clock this morning, we are going to invite our environmental experts from the Beijing Environmental Bureau. And they will talk about the air quality in Beijing. You are most welcome to attend the press conference. Thank you very much and thank you Wang Wei.