Legend swimmer Spitz expects Beijing Olympics the best

Laureus World Sports Academy member Mark Spitz arrives at the Laureus Sports Awards at the Palau Sant Jordi on April 2, 2007 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo credit: Ian Walton/Getty Images for Laureus)

(BEIJING, February 18) -- Famous American swimmer Mark Spitz predicted on Sunday that the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games would be the best in the history of the Olympics.

He made the remarks as a guest of the awarding ceremony of this year's Laurence Prize, Xinhua reported.

China owns a time-honored and unique culture, and the Olympic ceremonies would embody the characteristics and would be very splendid as the best performance in the history of the Olympics, he told the press, adding, the host city would present an outstanding performance because it knew that the event was attracting the world's attention.

He also said he believed in the Games' outstanding organizational work and wished it all the best. He didn't conceal his intention to attend the Games.

Spitz grabbed seven gold medals at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and so far one else has broken the record of the highest number.