Third IOC & BOCOG press conference

Financial Times

Giselle, since I understand the IOC is technically in session right away through to the closing ceremony, I wonder if any consideration has been given to either working meeting or just breakfast meeting to discuss whether it is still appropriate to stage, for now to prepare for the 2014 Sochi Games, in such an unstable part of the world? Thanks.

Giselle Davies

We are very much focused on this Games, right now, for obvious reasons. There was no discussion the session convening in any formality for this or other topics. In terms of Sochi 2014 that is a long way down the line. They haven't been at this stage or any discussions with those involved, which would in any case be at the level of the Coordination Commissions. But there is no plan whatsoever as I say here today on that.

Foreign reporter

Can we get some attendants please on the Olympic events so far. As what we did in Athens on a daily basis?

Sun Weide

On August 10, altogether we received 512 teams in all the venues, 3,865 athletes, 2,774 team officials, 1254 technicians, 290,288 spectators, 6,436 dignitaries and 7,731 journalists were there to cover the Games.

Reporter from Denmark

We have the IOC President sending messages to the victims of the earthquake in China. We have seen other messages coming from IOC. Has there been any official measures in this Games to Russia and Georgia?

Giselle Davies

Thank you. Messages were kept typically within the contest of the sports. So as mentioned yesterday, we met the National Olympic Committee with Georgia. They came to see us and also had discussion with the Russian NOC. As I said yesterday, they continued their competition here in Beijing. Messages regarding the tragedy of the earthquake, obviously is something that was deeply wanted to be expressed by the President to the people of China, the country that is hosting the Olympic Games. I am sure you understand it is not the president's remit to get involved in the messages, involving in international political situations.

Foreign reporter

It's very cold in the MPC and on the bus and I would like to know where the thermostat has been set here. It's very cold and also in Japan for environment measures, we talked about cold bids. So for example, men will take out their ties and the idea of being that you will set the thermostat high for environment reasons.

We live in a time when this kind of thing is called for. You talked about 'Green Olympics'. Why is it that we are not seeing the measures taken? Why do we have to put up with such cold temperatures within the rooms and on the buses? I would like to know why is it so cold here. My question has to do with waste. How is waste being sorted and how is the waste produced here recycled? What kind of route the trash takes when it leaves the building? Thank you.

Sun Weide

I think regarding the air conditioning, obviously IOC and the sport federations have the relevant regulations on the right temperature for the athletes and for the competition venues. For the Chinese government buildings, we also have special requirements. For example, during the summer times, the air conditioning temperature should not be below 26 degree Celsius. That is the Chinese government policy with regards to the government building. As for the Olympic venues, competition venues and non-competition venues, we follow the relevant IOC regulations. Of course, 'Green Olympics' is one of the three concepts we have adapted for the Beijing Olympic Games. For example, in building the Olympic venues, we have tried to use green building materials. We have been trying to adapt green technologies. For example, solar energy has been widely used in the building of the competition venues. For example, in Olympic Village, we have set up 6,000 square meters of solar energy panel for the first time in Olympic history. The athletes will use this solar energy to take a shower. It will be able to cut carbon dioxide by 8,000 tons every year. That's our policy.

Giselle Davies

In terms of what BOCOG as an organizing committee have done in environmental sustainable and the whole rough programs that they have worked on over the years, the IOC really welcomes and is delighted with what had happened in terms of programs to manage waste not just during the Games but actually to leave a legacy in terms of the population of Beijing who are our appraisal is working with the United Nations Environmental Program. I don't know if you were here when they were making their press conference. These are all programs which are actually having a legacy in terms of the local population being much more environmentally conscious. This is the case prior to the preparation and the work done on the environment. I think the organizing committee deserves to be given some positive reflections of this area.

Reporter from Italy

About the Iranian athletes. You say that the Iranian Olympic Committee said that they are ready to compete with any athletes of any nationalities, in a face to face competition like judo for example, because this is not what happened in Athens.

Giselle Davies

Thank you. I understand your question but that is what has been expressed to us indeed.

Kyodo News

I have a question about the celebration of the athletes right after the competition. Yesterday, a colleague of mine observed that when a flag was thrown into the venue from the stand, some personnel took them away and they were not allowed. Do you have certain policy with the celebration of the athletes right after the competition with the flags and so on? Thank you

Sun Weide

As have been the practice of the previous Olympic Games, we have issued a spectator guide some time ago. If you want to bring a flag into the stadium, it should not be longer than 2 meters. I think it has always been the tradition of the Olympic Games.

Giselle Davies

I don't know about this particular case that you mentioned. This is a sporting celebration just as in past Games. The spectators are there to encourage their athletes from their nations and cheered them on. The standard practice is that this has to be welcomed with a common sense approach. We have no reason to believe that it is being handled differently from that.

The Times

Yesterday on the venues, we noticed a large number of spectators dressed in matching yellow t-shirts particularly for the volleyball. We just wondered are they part of the official tour group or sport club. Do you know who they were? We have very large numbers all around the arenas.

Sun Weide

I have no information of that. Giselle, do you have an idea on that?

Giselle Davies

Actually, it has not been raised in any of the internal meetings which I can only therefore indicate that it is not an issue anyway. Not aware of it but again happy to take further look and come back to you if there is more information.

The Beijing News

Please share with us that during the past couple of days, what are the results of doping tests and how many tests have been performed in China and how many internationally in terms of urine and blood tests? Second, through the pre-competition testing, have you prepared lists of the suspects so that they will become the targets of intensified monitoring in the subsequent competitions? If so, how many athletes are included in this list?

Giselle Davies

Allow me to give it to you now. I can actually report to you the first doping rule violation of this Games under the IOC Games-time testing program which started on the 27th of July when the athletes village was opened. It is very much a thorough process which does include target testing to answer your question. The IOC means business in stamping out for those who are not playing by the rules. The case that has just come to light this morning can confirm the disciplinary commission's decision regarding Maria Isabel Moreno, she is a Spanish cyclist. She was tested on the 31st of July in the Village, in the afternoon. She left China that evening before having had the results of her tests. Her test is positive for EPO so the disciplinary commission this morning has rule that she will be excluded from the Games. Her accreditation has been cancelled and withdrawn. We hope that Cycling Federation the UCI follows up with any other area of this case as it can which is outside of the IOC remits, outside of the games time process. That is the case this morning and I hope that I answered your question. In terms of the numbers of test we've had, I don't have those on me. But would be happy to update you at the briefing later on this week. We will be doing some 4,500 tests over the course of the period which runs from the 27th of July until the end of the Games, both in competition and after the competition, including target testing and including as a matter of course the top 5 finishers tested at random.

Financial Times

I'm just following up from that. Do you know that this was the same type of EPO as the cyclist tested positive for?

Giselle Davies

I don't. We will publish the full decision on our website later today. This literally was happening; I just got the information as you probably saw just this morning. So I don't have further details on that. If it's part of the decision of the state, it will be further explained and further details will be given. Whatever there is, will be shared later today.

AP

I'm sure the police have been investigating the attack 2 days ago. I wonder if you would come back in perhaps with the police investigation and the further results of the investigation. What more you know about the attack because now we know little about the motives? Thank you.

Sun Weide

I think the police are still investigating the case and BOCOG is providing every assistant possible to the relatives of the victim. As soon as more information is available, we will let know you. But at this moment we still don't have further information on that. Thank you.

With that, we conclude our conference. Thank you very much. Hope to see you tomorrow.