Five Tasks

Liu Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC and Secretary of the Beijing Party Committee, is reported to have told the 9th session of the Ninth Beijing Committee of the Communist Party of China that in preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games Beijing should do a better job.

Specifically he identified five tasks

- constructing the facilities

- exploring the market

- organising the publicity work

- servicing and guaranteeing

- promoting humanistic Olympics.

He noted that promoting a humanistic Olympics would be the central task.

He concluded by stating that the preparation of the 2008 Olympics in 2005 would enter a key period.

A Dose of Realism

It seems that despite the hype about London's chances of winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics, members of Parliament are somewhat more sanguine.

In a survey of 204 MPs, carried out by CommunicateResearch, 72 per cent were "not particularly confident" or "not at all confident" that London will win.

Not one MP said that he or she was "very confident" that London will succeed.

This is a setback to the London bid, as it needs to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it has widespread public support.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, was quoted as saying:

"Public support is critical...We have to demonstrate that the people of the UK are behind this bid and will be enthusiastic supporters of a Games in 2012."