Eighth IOC/BOCOG press conference

Related story: IOC satisfied with Games-time operations

Date/Time: 11:15 a.m., Monday, August 18

Venue: Main Press Center (MPC)

Sun Weide

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's BOCOG/IOC joint press conference. We are joined today by Mr. Wang Wei, the executive vice president and secretary general of BOCOG; and also Giselle Davies, IOC director of Communications.

First of all, I would like to give the floor to Mr. Wang Wei.

Wang Wei at the press conference

Wang Wei

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Have a good day today. First a general overview of the Games operations for August 17th. On the 9th day of the Olympic Games, there were a total of 24 competition events staged in 24 venues including 19 in Beijing and 5 in 2 co host cities. The competition venues received 3,792 athletes, 4,830 team officials, 542 participating teams as well as 4,704 technical officials, 558,452 spectators, 15,780 VIPS, 13,408 journalists. In addition the venues received 92 training teams consisting of 1,158 athletes and 472 team officials. The stand alone training venues received 1,233 athletes, 515 team officials, 47 technical officials and 41 journalists.

The Olympic Games Common Domain received 222,993 visitors, 13 competitions had spectator attendance rate over 90%, 4 had 80% to 90%, 3 has 70% to 80%, 1 had 50% to 60%. For events completed so far, on August 17, the competition of badminton, fencing, shooting, rowing, tennis and Greece-Roman wrestling were completed. So far, a total of 11 competitions have been successfully concluded. The football matches in the co-host cities of Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao have also been completed. August 18 will see the conclusion of track cycling, artistic gymnastics, trampoline, triathlon and weight lifting.

Update for August 18:

The 10th day of the Olympic Games will see 22 competition events. A total of 18 gold medals will be awarded today.

Weather for August 18:

Beijing and Qingdao are expected to be cloudy and overcast. Shanghai and Hong Kong will remain hot and humid. Shanghai will experience thundershower in the afternoon and Hong Kong to have light rain in the early morning of August 19.

Sun Weide

Thank you, Mr. Wang Wei. I would like to give the floor to Giselle.

Giselle Davies at the press conference

Giselle Davies

Thank you Weide. Just two small pieces of information to keep you up to date. On the number of doping test up to date completed 3667 tests, of which are 2905 urine and 762 blood.

President Rogge today is in the process of traveling to Hong Kong for equestrian events and then he will go to Qingdao for sailing and be back to Beijing on Wednesday. Thank you, Weide.

Sun Weide

Thank you, Giselle. Now the floor is open for questions. Before you raise your questions, we would appreciate if you could stand up just for the convenience of our broadcasters.

TBS, Japan

In the Chinese newspaper, there was a factor that a man has dressed as a woman to enter the Games. And there was some gender checking. Can you tell us what country this person is from and what the suspected activities are? Could the IOC let us know about this information?

Giselle Davies

Thank you. We don't have specific information as for the question you allude to. There was a process in place. Is there any concern for test to be done on gender so that the process does exist? It is not done at our matches of course; it is done if specific cases are reference to our medical authority. But to my knowledge, I am not aware of any case that has been gender tested as we speak today.

New York Sun

This question is for Ms Davies. I want to follow up on the question from last week about the press conference involving the Georgia and Judo athletes where someone tempted to ask about the Georgia and Russia conflict and the question was rejected by the monitor. Is that the right procedure to censor the question? Is that the IOC's view is the correct procedure? If so, how it is different from similar questions that have been raised as this briefing directed to both of your folks?

Giselle Davies

Well, first of all, of course we are here for the sports. And that takes the privileged place naturally. I think we are here talking about human beings trying to do their job running press venues and so on and so forth. And sometimes taking the letter of what it is to understand a little bit too precisely. So we weren't there we didn't see the exact case but clearly, in this room and also in others, there can be questions put in that grey zone. No one is trying here to have any form of censorship. Of course, we will focus on sports because that is what this event is all about. But if there are questions that urged to that grey area, as long as it is done respectfully and the athletes doesn't have any feeling of discomfort. Wishes to respond and then that shouldn't be a problem.

Press Association, England

Do you know yet whether all the drug tests from the 100 Meters Men's final have come back yet and what are the results as well?

Giselle Davies

Please understand that the medical teams are processing on a daily basis, anything from 200-350 samples. Talking about a lot of work done by this team, 24 hours around the clock, so I can't give you a perspective to how long all the sample and analysis takes. If we are not up here giving you information on the anti doping rule violation, there is no anti doping rule violation happening. We treat all the cases in terms of due process. Once the decision is taken of course we will be fully transparent to confirm the details with you. I hope you can see more sense. But I can't be more specific than that.

CRI

Recently people have said on the web about the number of gold medals for the Beijing Olympics. The pure gold is not coated gold and it contains lead which is harmful to the human body. What is the comment from BOCOG?

Wang Wei

I think this is actually a joke. I think the blogger did not really mean to mention it as a major issue. I believe this is not really true. The gold medal as a matter of fact is not of pure gold. We all know the production of gold medal is based on pure silver medals which is coated with gold which is 6 grams coated gold. In addition, I will mention that the medals producer is not the biggest gold medal exporter for the Wuhan 100% Gold Company. The Beijing medals are provided by Shanghai Branch of China Banknote Printing and Minting Company. In addition, the materials are provided by BHP Billiton from Australia. All the materials are provided by that company. This bronze medals material comes from Chile.

This silver contained in the gold and silver medals are from the mining company called CANNINGTON in Australia. The material from the bronze medal is from Chile provided by the copper mining project called SPENCE. BHP must meet the requirements for the Olympic medals. After the materials are processed in China, they are assessed and tested by the National Testing Center in China so the gold content is about 99.99%. These are the facts that I want to further clarify to you. They actually started as a joke. But since you ask about it, I would clarify it to you.

South China Morning Post

Mr. Wang, thank you very much for the answer there. I was not here on Friday and on the weekend there was no IOC press conference. I was wondering that question there which then did not get a full answer. I was wondering then maybe you did answer on Friday but I didn't see that. Can you now tell us have you get the answers to the applicants who have applied for the protest parks? This question appeared to be asked every single day. I presume today you might have sort of the answer?

Wang Wei

I'm sorry I'm still have not got any answer, but I have conveyed the questions to the relevant authorities and I think in the recent days, there might be an answer to that. Thank you.

South China Morning Post

I just want to speak from my colleagues in the room. But it seems that you were able to give us an absolute comprehensive report on the amount of metals and other precious metals in the medals. I'm just wondering can you describe to us who have contacted, how many times, who is the person in charge regarding this protest parks. I just feel that now we do deserve a bit more than just knowing it will be related to us some days. Can you tell us when? Whether it will be Wednesday or Friday? Maybe Giselle can you tell us what the IOC is doing to address this, what we thought is an important matter. Thanks.

Wang Wei

This matter is the matter of the city and the government security matter. It is not a BOCOG matter. BOCOG did try to help, that is our position. We are trying to provide the information. I think with matter like this, you have to be patient and you have to wait, then later we will have some information for you. Thank you.

Giselle Davies

Let me also add, if I may, on the subject, a couple of points. I understand that you are putting your questions to Mr. Wang Wei. But it is true, fair and correct to say that for all the Games, these areas are not the responsibilities of the organizing committee.

Past practice of the Games has been city authorities find designated areas of the city to allow peaceful protest to take place, because it is a matter of fact, that people do use this Games as a platform to push the courses of their advocate. The IOC was very pleased when we were told by the authorities here, it is transferred to us through organizing committee. The relevant cities authorities have put in place these areas where we confirm that the best practice of past Games would be applied in this incidence. It's true that we do sit here with the question put by the parties and the media not answered. From the IOC perspective, we would like to see these answered very much and we encourage as much transparency as possible on this matter. But from the organizing committee said, I think Mr. Wang Wei has said that he has endeavored to facilitate that information and greater transparency with who are directly in charge of these measures.

CBC

Mr. Wang Wei, many athletes are having problems accessing their websites and blogs still. Are some of the sites that are still blocked? And what are you planning to do about it?

Wang Wei

Well, I think I answered the question before. Actually, whether the media and athletes are enjoying freedom to access to the website except those fields that the authorities feel might sabotage the country and might bad for the growth of the youth. I think that is the position of BOCOG and we also facilitate these questions, thank you.

Reuters

Giselle, a question on the executive board meeting or disciplinary commission on the recent doping case of the Greek athletes. When will we be expecting the decision? Thank you.

Giselle Davies

The disciplinary commission happening right now, it was due 11:30 this morning. I don't know where in the discussion and deliberation automatically they would like to transfer the decision to the executive board. I might as you know fully well, because you follow these things closely. Sometimes the rules of violation can be decided simply on the disciplinary commission so we will have a decision today. Or it might be transferred to the higher authority or executive board. In the four cases you've seen today, for those straightforward, we can have the decision today. Bottom line is as soon as we have the decision, we will either come up here or release a press release. So all I can say is I will keep a close watch and keep you informed in the next 24 hours or so.

Daily Mail

Giselle, did you agree BOCOG's decision not to hold on either on Saturday or Sunday especially under the need for greater transparency? But there the excuse they gave us is that Michael Phelps is swimming when we have to finish before the press conference starts, certainly the time you turned up today. Also the ticketing, hardly any journalists could get it anyway. Thank you.

Giselle Davies

The decision was made jointly by BOCOG and IOC together. Yesterday, we simply feel we can not compete with Micheal Phelps. There were a number of you in this room who expressed that time wasn't ideal. I apologize to some of you. That wasn't the case. We are here today. We are available either here or at the podium, or we have, as you know, a team who will end up available 24 hours around the clock. I think the mobile phones don't actually go off at night so we are here happy to take questions. It is not a precedent, just to underline not to hold briefing on very single day. That has been the case in past Games. From the IOC perspective in terms of how these Games are going, the fact that the daily coordination commission between IOC and BOCOG has been suspended probably until pronominal day of the Games demonstrate that we feel the Games are rolling very smoothly. Operationally very well. Do understand that you have questions that you want to be answered, and we had to do that for you. Hope we can assist you during this week.

Around the Rings

I guess you might answer it but the coordination commission is not meeting until Saturday. That is kind of unprecedented for it to such a gap between the meetings. When was the last time they did meet?

Giselle Daives

It's a very good question. I think you are right when you said it is unprecedented. It very much reflects the very relax and the happy position of the IOC have in terms of how the success of the Games. Of course there is a collaboration and coordination in terms of working with BOCOG side by side in venues and so forth. But the meeting has no formal meeting between the IOC at the senior level and BOCOG at the senior level has been suspended until the 23rd. I believe that is the Saturday as you've mentioned. In Athens, if my mind served correctly, we had fewer coordination commissions that were ran on a daily basis. The fact that we are feeling the need to meet reflects as a say the perspective that the Games are going on very well and we can get out and enjoy the sports. The last one will be scheduled on the 23rd in the morning. We have a variety get-together. There is a goodbye breakfast between the IOC and BOCOG. The last we had before the 23rd was on Friday. Sun Weide confirmed on Friday. That's why we don't have the briefing on Saturday morning because there is no coordination commission.

Typically speaking, for those who follow Games on a regular basis, press briefing has always been the case to come and update you and take questions when there has been a meeting in the morning to go to. Any operational issues that need to be ironed out on the questions are raised between the two organizations with that not being scraped pretty much until the end of the Games. That is why we did not come on Saturday. We do understand your need and confirmed that we will be here this week. Weide will give you this information at the end of this briefing.

BBC

I want to talk about footwear, the question about what you put on your feet and take off at the end of the 100 meters. I'm sure that PUMA will be absolutely delighted in saying when both gave them 2 billion people to have a look at their logo and their beautifully presented shoes at the end of the 100 meters. I'm not convinced that ADIDAS would have been so thrilled. I wonder whether you will give any advice to athletes to say keep your footwear on your feet when you are in the 200 meters.

Giselle Davies

The Olympic Games are held as clean venues and very much philosophy of the Games that is how they are run. We have not anything raised about the matter you mentioned from Saturday night. I'm very happy to look into it and see more information then I can give you.

Sydney Morning Herald

Earlier last week, you were asked a simple question about a Tibetan journalist who was seeking to cover the Games and you promised to get back to us with more information about that. And about the Free Asia journalist, I was wondering what the result of that has been from Giselle and Wang Wei. Also we've been promised to get an update of the dancer that was paralyzed from the Opening Ceremony, whether that was the case that she was seriously injured or not at the rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony. Can we have an update on that please?

Giselle Davies

With regards that there is a journalist which is part of the United States Olympic Committee invited through their national Olympic committee. We have sought further information of this on understanding that the case is still pending. Of course, we are very much encouraged to have more details on that.

Wang Wei

Let me answer both of your questions. The first one is concerned the journalist from Radio Free Asia. Currently it has been true that we have no further information. The application is being processed by the international precedent. The approval of visa is something to do with the authority of the hosting country. They also have the right not to disclose the information on this matter.

As for the dancer, I mentioned last time that the dancer really suffered a very heavy fall. Currently we can't confirm whether she is paralyzed or not. I would like to once again confirm that if the dancer is paralyzed, the recovery is moving towards the right positive direction. Whether it can be confirmed or the dancer will be paralyzed or not, it will take at least six months and we hope for her to have a good recovery. Thank you.

Seattle Times

My question is regarding the Olympic Green for Mr. Wang Wei. What is the exact way that people get into the Olympic Green? How to apply? Are the tickets free? Is there a limit on the number of people who are allowed into the Green to circulate? The other question is do you have an update for us on the situation of the unused tickets. Whether there are tickets available that maybe VIPs or family members or other people have not used and the people who wanted to attend?

Wang Wei

Thank you for your question. The central park of the Olympic Green, as I mentioned last time, is mainly the community office service civilization responsible for the Olympic Green. We have the ethnic office. As far as this ethnic office is concerned, they will organize certain numbers of the public to enter into the Olympic Green. This is helpful for us to control the flow of people inside the Olympic Green so that we can limit that certain number. Recently, the number has come up quite much. If some other people want to enter into the Olympic Green, they can apply to the offices for the tickets which are all free. As far as the foreigners are concerned, they can apply to the tourist agencies and the hotels where they stay. Recently, there are not many tickets available for the hotels. We are planning to increase the number of tickets available to the hotels. They are dealing with the issue in an organized manner. As far as the authorities are concerned, they have an estimate for the number of people in the Olympic Green. The track and field has started. We have certain control on the amount of the number of people inside the Green. The flow of people is controlled by the concerned authorities. Thank you for your question.

As far as the tickets are concerned, we have no unused tickets. All the tickets are sold. Of course, there are certain emergency tickets. This is also the standard practice. There are limited numbers of the emergency tickets. There are only 2% scattered all over the venues. If a certain part of the venue is blocked or certain accident takes place, these tickets are used to deal with such matters. These tickets must be kept. We don't have any other tickets.