On-campus seminar furthers China’s 2008 Olympic hopes

By Michelle Coppolella
Daily Bruin Reporter

On July 13 in Moscow, Russia, the the International Olympic
Committee will decide which city will host the 2008 Summer
Olympiad. Beijing, China is widely considered the city to beat, but
there is tough competition from Toronto, Canada and Paris,
France.

After losing its 2000 Olympic bid by two votes to Sydney,
Australia, Victor Liu, vice president of the Chinese Students and
Scholars Association at UCLA, hopes not to relive the
disappointment he experienced in China eight years ago.

Last Wednesday, a seminar hosted by the CSSA was held in
Ackerman Union to introduce and promote Beijing’s Olympic bid
to UCLA.

Focusing specifically on sports facilities, political issues,
transportation, and environmental protection, Liu and others laid
out a comprehensive presentation supporting Beijing’s bid in
hopes of serving as a bridge between UCLA and Beijing.

“We want to get more involved with the athletic department
here at UCLA,” Liu said. “In every world-wide athletic
event, there have been many representatives from UCLA. This
university provides a good opportunity to share information with
those athletes and coaches.”

China hopes to provide 37 new venues for the 2008 Olympics, with
32 of the venues located in Beijing itself. Sixteen of the 37
venues have already been erected and 15 are under construction. If
Beijing receives the bid on July 13, the six remaining venues will
be erected. Additionally, three main airports already exist and
approximately 400 new bus routes will be added to the city.

“Just from its facilities, Beijing is good enough to host
any top sporting event,” said guest Tony Li, record-holder
for the 110 meter hurdles in Asia and former NCAA Track and Field
Champion from Washington St. University. “It’s been
preparing for the experience. It hosted the 11th Asian Games in
1990 and in August, it will host the Small Olympics, so I really
think it’s very well prepared.”

Strong support from national and local levels of government has
accounted for praise from international officials and the IOC. The
Beijing Municipal People’s Congress passed a bill to support
Beijing and bid for the 2008 Olympic Games at its annual session in
February this year. The bill noted that bringing the Olympics to
Beijing will have profound influence on the development of the
Olympic Movement and the Olympic Ideal. Additionally, an IOC poll
showed 96 percent support for the Olympics in Beijing and other
urban areas.

“China needs the world and the world needs China,”
Liu said during the presentation. “Give Beijing a chance and
it will reward the world with a miracle.”

But China’s human rights record could again be a major
issue, as pro-Tibet groups have already threatened to wage a
campaign against Beijing’s bid. Also, considerable population
growth in a city of already more than 12 million could provide
obstacles to Beijing’s run for the bid. But most, including
Richard D. Schultz, former executive director of the United States
Olympic Committee, feel that what Beijing has to offer outweighs
any potential problems.

“Having been involved in international politics for a good
number of years, I think that Beijing almost has to have a disaster
between now and July 13 to keep them from getting the bid,”
Schultz said in a phone interview. “I think the international
community really wants to see the games there. They think it will
really open up China and be an advantage worldwide.

“If nothing dramatic changes, it may impact the vote in
the U.S. delegation, but I don’t think it will have an impact
on anybody else.”

Li, who retired after Beijing lost the bid for the 2000 Olympics
in 1993, feels that China offers a vast, untapped market for the
Olympics; additionally, however, he hopes that Beijing will be
chosen as the host city of the 2008 Olympics for the sake of both
the country and its athletes.

“If Beijing wins the bid, more athletes will have the
opportunity to compete,” Li said. “Since
(Beijing’s) putting so much effort into winning the bid and
the government has built so many new sport facilities for general
citizens, sports participation will undoubtedly increase. It would
be a very good thing for China and the international
community.”