Beijing olympic:Chefs de Mission Seminar ends

Scene of the closing session of Chefs de Mission Seminar

(BEIJING, August 9) -- The 3-day Chefs de Mission Seminar of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games ended in Beijing on Thursday.

Representatives of over 200 national and regional Olympic committees (NOCs) were updated by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) on its preparatory work for the Games, and held discussions on specific topics.

At the opening session, Mr. Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) expounded the characteristics of the Beijing Olympics and the guiding principles of the services for the Games. He dealt with eight areas of the services to provide good conditions for athletes and officials from various countries.

Mr. Liu Jingmin

In his speech at the closing session, BOCOG Executive Vice-President Liu Jingmin said the attendants had a wide-ranging and deep discussion on such key areas as accreditation, the Olympic Village, security and transport. He pledged that BOCOG would conduct an in-depth study on proposals and suggestions of the representatives regarding sport organization, accommodation, transport, catering, security and other matters. BOCOG will take measures to improve its services according to the delegates' views. "The seminar helps BOCOG to further understand the demands of the NOCs, improve its work and upgrade its services," he said.

In the year leading to the Olympics, Liu said, BOCOG will enhance contact and cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), international sport federations (IFs) and NOCs and do its best to prepare for the Olympics and extend all-around and high quality services for their participants.

During the meeting, BOCOG invited attendants to take part in a tree-planting activity in the Olympic Green. They also visited the Olympic Village, competition and non-competition venues, which they described as both beautiful and functional.

On the night of August 8, they joined the celebrations of the one-year countdown to the Beijing Olympics. President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge issued invitations to NOCs to participate in the Olympics. On the last day of the seminar, the delegates observed the Good Luck Beijing 2007 International Hockey Tournament at Olympic Green Hockey Field and 2007 World Rowing Junior Championships at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. They were impressed by the perfect organization of the competitions and the excellent performance of the athletes.

The Chefs de Mission Seminar is one of the most important meetings of the Olympic Movement. According to international practice, the seminar is held one year before the Olympic Games, with a duration of three days. It aims at briefing NOCs on the progress of the preparatory work for the Olympics, hearing NOCs' views and suggestions and fostering communication and exchange among members of the Olympic Family.

Attendants at the seminar

Up to 600 people, including the representatives of relevant bodies of IOC, IFs, hosts of 2010 Olympic Winter Games and 2012 Olympic Summer Games, and Chinese and foreign media attended the meeting, making it the largest in terms of attendants.