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2008 Olympics
2008 Olympics
UPDATED: March 6, 2007 NO.10 MAR.8, 2008
The Final Countdown
There are still issues to be resolved, including making good on the promise that the Olympic torch will pass over Mount Everest, and ensuring that stadiums built for the event do not go to waste afterwards
By TANG YUANKAI
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With a little more than a year before the launch of the Olympic Games in China, preparations seem to be proceeding well. Stadiums are being built, volunteers are being recruited, and enthusiasm among Beijingers remains high.

Yet there are still issues to be resolved, including making good on the promise that the Olympic torch will pass over Mount Everest, and ensuring that stadiums built for the event do not go to waste afterwards.

One thing that keeps the organizers awake at night is the one thing they cannot control-the weather.

"The thing that worries us most during preparations is the weather on August 8, the opening day of the Beijing Olympics," said Jiang Xiaoyu, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG). Weather is important to the games, especially the outdoor events, and it could affect the athletes' performances as well as spectators' spirits.

Chinese weather forecasters have checked records dating back 50 years in order to predict the probability of rain on the opening day.

"In general, the rain possibility on that day is between 30 and 40 percent, 75 percent of which is small rainfall. For the past decade, it's been 100 percent rainless or there has been a small rainfall," said Jiang.

Weather was a consideration even before Beijing won its bid for the Olympic Games. China's bidding crew originally wanted to stage the event in late July, but after studying weather patterns opted to reschedule it between August 8 and 24.

"We think such a time period in August is better for the event. However, due to the recent global warming phenomenon and unpredictable weather factors, there might be unexpected weather during the games," noted Jiang, adding that various government departments are working on measures to minimize the effects of potentially bad weather.

"What helps us to overcome the fear of bad weather is the massive support we have received from both the Central Government and the public," added Jiang. This support included a visit by President Hu Jintao to the construction site of an Olympic stadium on October 1. The president emphasized at the time the importance of adhering to the concepts of a "green Olympics, hi-tech Olympics and people's Olympics."

Jiang cited, as an example of the public support he has received, an incident in which a migrant worker in Beijing sent him a design plan for the opening ceremony. "His plan, which contains more than 60 pages, is quite explicit and detailed. We are quite impressed by the public's enthusiasm and participation in the Beijing Games and try to listen to them," he said.

Born in Beijing in April 1948, Jiang said he feels privileged to be included in the Beijing Olympics team. The first time he learnt what the Olympic Games were was in 1979, when, with a resolution adopted by all International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, the Chinese Olympic Committee's (COC) legal status was reinstated. But Jiang never thought that after 25 years, the Olympics would be the reason for the most important career of his life.

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