John Dowling Coates: You can be very proud

Video: Interview of John Dowling Coates (.wmv windows media)

(BEIJING, August 10) -- In a recent interview with the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Mr. John Dowling Coates, President of the Australian Olympic Committee, praised the work of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and also shared with us some of Sydney's experiences from hosting the Olympic Games.

A Green Olympics

The Olympic Games has been a catalyst for urban and environmental renewal in Beijing. The Games in Sydney were promoted as "the Green Games" and the city did an exceptional job in terms of the environment. With a "Green Olympics" as a major goal for the Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing has instituted environmental measures. Mr. Coates spoke about his thoughts on this.

With a population of about five times that of Sydney's, faces a far greater challenge, said Mr. Coates. Furthermore, because China's numerous factories were not previously alerted to environmental conditions, China can only do its best in the short time that remains, "in terms of planting trees and adopting world best practice in environmental matters."

Mr. Coates is optimistic, however, especially since BOCOG has announced that it will take cars off the roads during the Games and that most of the construction work will cease at the end of the year. Mr. Coates believes that all these measures will be "very necessary" because, at the end of the day, the health of the athletes who are competing in the Games is what matters most.

Be proud

Aside from environmental planning, BOCOG must be given credit for planning and improvements in other areas. Mr. Coates believes BOCOG is doing an exceptional job so far. He stated that China "can be very proud of what [the] organizing committee is doing," and he is also confident of what the Chinese Olympic Committee will do with its team. "I'm sure they will perform very well," said Mr. Coates.