Source: Xinhua
08-08-2008 08:21
Special Report: 2008 Beijing Olympic GamesBEIJING -- "China is doing a wonderful job in getting ready to host this very large (Beijing Olympic) Games," Vanuatuan President Kalkot Mataskelekele said Thursday.
"I think China is putting up a tremendous effort...China has succeeded in making this one of the best Olympics that has ever been organized," Mataskelekele, who will attend the Games' opening ceremony Friday night, said.
"I don't think it is an easy challenge for a country to host a gathering like the Olympics," the president noted. "It is a festival, a celebration of the best things that China can show to the rest of the world."
Mataskelekele, 59, who visited Beijing last July, said many changes have taken place in Beijing over the past year, in preparation for the upcoming Olympics.
"I saw blue skies yesterday," he said, while commending the Chinese authorities' introduction of the even-odd system for private vehicles during the Olympics, which "has helped clear up the atmosphere."
He said he has seen a lot of new buildings in Beijing, and the city was looking very clean and festive. "I am sure there has been a lot of effort put into making the places look nice and accommodating for the visitors," the Vanuatuan leader said.
Vanuatu, which has an area of 12,000 square km and a population of 200,000, has sent three athletes including two female table tennis players to the Beijing Olympics.
