Full coverage: Officials brief on torch relay program

CNN:

At this stage are you confident there will be no sporting boycott of the Olympic Games? Also the French Foreign Minister said in the last 24 hours that he would consider a boycott that is non sporting including a possible boycott of the opening ceremony. I wonder if I could ask your reaction to that?

Jiang Xiaoyu:

As we know the Summer Olympic Games is held every 4 years. It is a very important gala for sports participants and all the people around the world. Many athletes have been preparing for many years and many people around the world are looking forward to this very Olympic Games. We hope the Olympic Games will satisfy needs of athletes and the games will be splendid and successful.

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games is much anticipated. Its theme is civilization and harmony. It will highlight the progressiveness of the Chinese civilization and its integration with cultures around the world. We will use high technologies to give the best presentation. The issue you just raised is only the decision of a few people or a few organizations. I do believe the majority of people around the world will make the right decision and will participate in the Olympic Games and the opening ceremony.

Gazzetta Sport, Milan:

Security issues: Other than Tibet it's not absurd to imagine any kind of terrorist attack like a car bomber in Xinjiang. Could you here assure the safety of the life of every torchbearer? It's more like a yes or no answer.

Jiang Xiaoyu:

Please be assured that no matter what happened in Tibet, Xinjiang or any other places in China, those events will never affect the normal operation of the torch relay. In China, we will work closely with governments in different levels to first of all ensure the safety of torchbearers and second of all the smooth operation of other events at the torch relay.

Austrian Television:

Have I understood you correctly that no matter what, the Tibet leg of the torch relay will take place? Or could there be any event where you have to cancel it? I have counted 12 days where the torch will travel through places that are currently listed as unsafe for journalists to go now. Why will they be safer for the torchbearers and journalists covering these legs? Thank you.

Jiang Xiaoyu:

For all the risks involved in the torch relay we have had a comprehensive evaluation and have come up with relative contingency plans against all eventualities -- which include unfavorable weather conditions, too. In case there are those events or incidents happening, we are obliged to change the route or cancel the relay in some cities. At the moment, all the preparations for the torch relay in Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Gansu are underway and the progress has been very successful. The torch relay is a large scale campaign which lasts 130 days so during this period of time if there's any condition or eventuality -- say the weather or any other condition -- we will immediately inform the public.

Wang Hui:

Thank you for your attention. That is the end of the press conference.