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| IOC President Jacques Rogge (C), flanked by IOC Press Commission Chairman Kevan Gosper (L) and
Hein Verbruggen (R), chairman of the IOC coordination commission, answers a
question during a news conference in Beijing November 1, 2004.
[Reuters] |
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge
tried to erase Beijing's money worries on Monday, saying
that hosting the Games will benefit the country.
He asked the city to separate its general development budget from the
actual Olympic operational budget, which he believes will be balanced or even profitable due to partial
coverage from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"We have no advice to give on the investment budget for the city, this
is the responsibility for the city, for China to decide," said Rogge on
Monday at a news conference in Beijing.
Earlier Monday, Rogge met with President Hu Jintao to discuss the
Beijing Games.
"All of our advice will be on the operational budget which we are
working out with the organizing committee and we hope it will be balanced
or in profit," he said.
The IOC boss, who took over the post from former president Juan Antonio
Samaranch in 2001, said the IOC will pay 60 per cent of the operational
budget while another 40 per cent will be met by local sponsorships and
ticket sales. The combination is likely to leave a profit for Olympic
organizers.
 "Since the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, this budget always
delivers a profit and this profit is distributed to the national Olympic
committee of the host country and to the city for the investment in
sports."
He pointed to the Athens Games as an example, saying that the IOC is
almost certain it will be balanced or profitable, although the financial
reports on the Games are yet to be published.
Concerning investment and venue construction budget, Rogge said it is
going to lift the city and leave an Olympic legacy.
"That is the reason why we have so many countries after Beijing
(bidding for the Olympic Games)," the president said.
He added "there will be no frugal Games, there will be only good
Games."
"The Games will be excellent at a very good level according to the
contract we have signed with China." Rogge said he had "no concerns" on
Beijing's planning of the Games.
An IOC delegation arrived in Beijing last week and toured sites where
Olympic facilities will be built. "We are confident. We are vigilant. We
support the organizing committee and we are happy. No concerns
whatsoever," Rogge said.
"We are now halfway through Beijing's preparation time and this is always a very
crucial period. It is a period where you have to move from pure planning to the operational
mode," the IOC president said.
(China Daily) | 
Updated: 2004-11-01 09:08