Tenth IOC/BOCOG press conference

Related story: More than 408,000 Beijing Paralympics tickets sold
Related story: Thirty-seven world records broken

Date/Time: 11:15 a.m., Friday, August 22

Venue: Main Press Center (MPC)

Sun Weide

Good morning, friends form the media. I would like to introduce to you, Mr. Wang Wei, the executive vice president and secretary general of BOCOG, Ms. Giselle Davies, IOC director of Communications. Our special guests are Frank Fredericks, chairman of the IOC Athletes' Commission, and Christophe Dubi, IOC Sports Director.

First of all, I will give the floor to Wang Wei.

Wang Wei gives speech at the press conference.

Wang Wei

First of all, general overview of the Games operation on August 21:

Competition organization and venue operation run smoothly on August 21. On the 13th day, there were a total of 19 competition events staged in 19 venues or venue cluster including 16 in Beijing and the remaining in co-host cities. A total of 21 gold medals were awarded. Up to date, a total of 237 gold medals, 238 silver and 273 bronze medals have been awarded. A total of 80 delegations have gained medals and 50 have won gold medals.

The competition venues received 1,476 athletes, 2,226 team officials from 466 participating teams, as well as 1,468 technical officials, 314,716 spectators, 3,312 VIPs and 5,636 journalists. In addition, the venues received 9 training teams, consisting of 59 athletes and 42 team officials. The stand alone training venues received 453 athletes and 199 team officials, 6 technical officials and 44 journalists. The Olympic Green common domain received 247,027 visitors. 14,040 people with tickets entering the Olympic Green Park. Of the 19 venues, 10 had a spectator rate of over 90%, 5 had 80 - 90%, 2 had 70 - 80%, and 2 had 50 – 60%.

Information on schedule changes for some events:

Because of the rain, the BMX semi and finals which were originally scheduled for Aug 21 at 9 a.m. has been rescheduled to August 22 at 9 a.m. The women's across country of mountain bike competition, which was originally scheduled for August 22 at 3 p.m., has been rescheduled to August 23 at 10 a.m.

Three, some venue teams have completed the staging competitions. To date, a number of competitions venues have finished staging competition. Out of 24 competition venue teams in Beijing, 8 have finished staging competition. This includes teams based in the shooting cluster, Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium, Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field, China Agricultural University Gymnasium, Beijing Workers' Stadium, as well as the teams for road cycling and triathlon.

The competition venue teams at five of the co-host cities, namely, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao have finished staging competitions. 5 of the 22 stand alone remaining venue teams and one of the 15 non-competition venue teams, namely the team based at the Olympic Youth Camp, have also finished their Games-time work.

Statistics related to the Paralympics:

Up to now, BOCOG has already registered 198,680 people for accreditation for Paralympics. 89,898 accreditation cards have been produced. 37,623 people have already had their accreditation cards validated including 35,114 staff members, 3 accredited media members, and 494 BOCOG sponsors.

A total of 408,271 tickets for the Paralympics have been sold. 30,418 tickets were sold yesterday.

Update for today, on the 14th day of the Olympics, there will be 18 competition events. A total of 21 gold medals will be awarded.

Weather forecast for today:

It will be sunny for Beijing today. Shanghai will experience thundershowers in the evening.

Thank you.

Sun Weide

Thank you, Mr. Wang Wei. Now the floor to Mr. Liu Wenbin.

Liu Wenbin at the press conference

Liu Wenbin

Good morning, the organization of the Games has entered into the last three days. Overall, the operation has been proceeding very smoothly. Up until August 22 midnight, of 625 units, 554 have already finished. Of 2,173 competitions, we finished 1,935, and we still have 238 to compete. Archery, badminton, canoe/kayak slalom, cycling road, cycling track, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, trampoline, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, softball, swimming, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, and wrestling have been finished.

Up until the 22nd, because of the rain, the competition schedule committee held 6 telephone conferences and made a decision to delay 8 events. Another 6 events have been delayed or stopped during the competition.

Medals:

Of 302 medals, there are already 237 golds, 238 silvers, and only one with double silvers for women's 100m, and 273 bronze. A total of 80 delegations have obtained medals and 50 have won gold medals. At this point, 18 people, 4 teams have broken 37 world records for 48 times. There have been 4 people equalizing four Olympic records for four times. 68 people, 7 teams broke 77 Olympic records for 131 times. Thank you.

Giselle Davies gives speech at the press conference.

Giselle Davies

Good morning everyone. I will bring you some new information today. This is our last press briefing on this Games. I would be delighted to bring to press briefing on my right, Frank Fredericks, IOC member and chairman of the IOC Athletes' Commission. He will be taking this role after this Games but of course an Olympian and a fantastic sportsman in his own right. To my left, Christophe Dubi, who is the IOC Sports Director and he will talk to you on a short moment on his perspective as director of the sports of IOC in this Games and a few other points. In a moment, I will give the floor to Frank. But before that, I just want share some notes.

As for usual, I have the latest the number of tests we have completed. In doping, 4,620 tests have been done to date of which 3, 681 are urine and 939 are blood. President Rogge today will be at the men's beach volleyball, modern pentathlon, and boxing and will meet with the chairman of the Athletes' Commission. On that, allow me to give the floor to Frank Fredericks who will give us his perspective on Beijing and some other points.

Frank Fredericks gives speech at the press conference.

Frank Fredericks

Thank you, Giselle. Good morning. I really feel humble and honored that I was elected and trusted with the responsibility by the athletes. First of all, in 2004 for Athens, to be part of the IOC Athletes' Commission and to be a chairperson in Beijing, sports have given me so much. If it was not for sports, the young man will not be sitting in front of you. I am really grateful what sports have given me in the first place and also for me as an athlete from my country to make my country known. But in saying it, it is very important for me that the athletes have a voice within the IOC and the IOC movement. It is nice for me to be the voice of the athletes. They can come to me through the Athletes' Commission. They can talk to us about issues that they feel are close to their hearts. As you know, the Athletes' Commission has 19 members, 12 of which are elected by the peers and 7 are appointed. Now you probably ask yourself what the roles of this Athletes' Commission are.

I think one of the main roles is that we are a consultative body, consultative in terms when the IOC meets an athlete's point of view. They come to us and if we do not have the answers we go to our peers through the NOC athletes commission the international federation athletes' commission. On the IOC, we serve on all the commission which means that in all the decision-making bodies, the athletes have a say.

I would also like to welcome the four members we have elected yesterday by our peers. I am looking forward to their new ideas and new energy that they can bring to this commission because at the end of the day we are strong as we are together.

What are the things we are doing? At the moment, we are currently busy with the organization doing their voice, not just for Beijing but also for Vancouver 2010, London 2012, for Sochi. We are also involved in the program commission so we are very busy. I just want to end by saying that when we are still running. I think when we come in Beijing and see the facilities here, it's amazing and I walked in the Olympic Village and I thought to myself you retired four years too early. Because I would have been nice to be here and to compete to see how fast the guys are running in the 100 and 200, which make it even more exciting. Wish I could have been here.

There is a member of the Athletes' Commission that is always in the Village. So whenever the athletes have issues or things that they want to tell us, we are always there to listen and to make sure that we take it to the authorities that made the decision.

Thank you very much.

Christophe Dubi

Thank Giselle and good morning everyone. Well, after what Frank has said regarding the fact that he wanted to be here, what more can you add? I think if you allow, I would have a personal comment on the Games here. I think when we come to Games, we come with a very high expectations because it is human experience. We hope to live great moments. This is what we've had so far. We started with an incredible Opening Ceremony. We have Bolt, Michael Phleps and the grand entrance of the BMX this morning, and it could go on. I think what we have seen so far has been extraordinary. What is interesting also is to have the perspective of the very important players in the Games, the international federation. They came with a lot of expertise, experience and expectations.

Having in contact with them everyday and so far, no single complain. Not any single president or secretary general of the federation would have a word of criticism. Why? Several reasons.

First, the venues. You've been to all the venues and everybody recognize that they are incredible from an architectural standpoint, technically they work. Operations as well run smoothly. No major issues affecting the operations for the officials and athletes. And most important, of course, everything gets well according schedule, perfectly.

We have a fantastic competition level which demonstrates the level of preparation for the Games. 42 world records, we have said it before, but also a very strong universality which is very important to every sport, strong universality in terms of participation in terms of more achievement as well. 80 nations obtaining medals, it means a lot for sports over the 5 continents. It is very important. I think our college Timo Lumme talked about this, a very important point, a very huge audience. This is where the credits goes to you as well because what we've seen so far are very good reports, incredible pictures. Very well done for the job you've been doing here, covering the Games and delivering the messages and images to the world. This is a great job you've been doing. Thank you very much and thank you as well to the colleagues in the Sport Department in BOCOG who have been stunning partners, very responsive and they put an enormous amount of energy. They deserve our sincere thanks and appreciation.

Thank you, Giselle.