Xinhua
Beijing, July 29 (Xinhua) The host city of the 29th Summer Olympic Games is going through every details of its seven-year-long preparation as the Beijing Olympics are all set to begin August 8. Despite suffering overseas torch-relay disruptions, deadly earthquake and soaring inflation, China is marching steadily toward the nation’s century Olympic dream.

ATHLETES: ADVANCE TEAMS TEST VENUE

The Olympic Village for the Games welcomed its first delegation of Chinese athletes Sunday, marking the start of official arrival of the athletes.

“The food here tastes very good and there are many entertaining facilities including Internet bars,” 20-year-old Hector Fuentes told Xinhua. The Cuban triple jumper on his first Olympic trip said the village facilities had gone beyond his expectation.

Swimmers from about ten countries came to the National Aquatic Center, known as Water Cube, Monday morning to test the pool and adapt themselves for the finals.

Beginning its rush hours, the Beijing Capital International Airport received more than 1,000 passengers from around the world Monday. “It will be the busiest time for the airport from now to the initiation of the Games,” said Li Hongbo, an Olympic volunteer, at the terminal said.

The airport will witness the biggest volume of arrival on August 7 when an estimated 6,000 passengers comprising athletes, journalists and officials will land.

STAFFS SEEKING FLAWS, MAKING SMOOTH OPERATION

Deng Yaping, deputy director of the Olympic Village, said the last-minute preparation will be the welcoming ceremony for each Olympic delegation.

“Our ability will be tested during the 10 days before the Games’ opening,” Deng said.

“More than 70 advance teams have arrived at the village who will also make preparations for the 16,000 athletes and officials before the opening ceremony,” Deng told Xinhua.

The recent haze that has covered Beijing for a few days seems to be the only embarrassment for the organizer, although Du Shaozhong, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, has revealed there had been 22 days without air pollution from July 1 to 25.

SPECTATORS EAGER FOR TICKETS

The BOCOG announced Monday that all Olympic tickets in Beijing have been sold out, leaving few for the spectators in some co-hosting cities.

Zhang Jie, a 34-year-old doctor, who lives less than five minutes walk away from the National Stadium, said his family were eager to get a ticket to the opening ceremony.

“When we see journalists here and various Olympic banners hanging on both sides of the road we know the Games are coming,” Zhang said.
Xinhua