Society

Construction of Asian Games venues 'clean'

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-29 07:46

GUANGZHOU: No foul play has been uncovered in the construction of the sports facilities for the upcoming Asian Games, organizers said yesterday.

Local people's congress deputies had requested the transparent publication of how funds were used in the venues' construction for the 2010 Asian Games. In response, the Guangzhou Games organizing committee said in a press announcement that the bids, design and construction of the sport venues have been in strict compliance with relevant regulations and laws.

"We attach a great importance to a scientific and economic approach to the venues development since construction of the venues started amid the global financial crisis," the notice said.

Nearly 8 billion yuan ($1.17 billion) has been invested in building new venues and renovating old facilities for the Games, which are scheduled to begin on Nov 12, organizers said.

In an early plan approved by the central government in 2006, as many as 96 venues were planned for the Games.

But organizers finally decided to develop only 72 venues for the Games due to the impact of the global financial crisis, and to help reduce investment.

However, some local people's congress deputies said organizers and the government should let the public know how much is needed to host the Games.

"We also need to know how such a large amount of investment money is used," said Deng Chengming, a deputy to the Guangdong provincial people's congress.

So far, neither organizers nor the local government has publicized any reports regarding the funds used for the upcoming Asian Games. "Publication of a report showing how the funds were used is of great importance to avoiding foul play in the construction of sport facilities for the Games," Deng told China Daily.

Zhang Weicheng, director of the supervision and auditing department of the organizing committee, said no cases of misconduct and fund embezzling has been detected since the construction of the venues began.

"We have introduced a series of supervisory measures to prevent any foul play," Zhang said.

Organizers have set up a special committee consisting of supervisory and auditing officials and experts to monitor construction of venues, Zhang said.

"The committee has helped develop a 'firewall' against any foul play in the Games' projects since its introduction two years ago," Zhang said.

Also yesterday, Guangzhou Party secretary Zhu Xiaodan urged the building of a "clean Asian Games".

"Any official or company manager found to be involved in foul play during preparation for the Games will be severely punished," Zhu said.