Sharing the joy: Beijing congratulates London
By Wu Ting Ting (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-07-07 16:04

Beijing, host of the 2008 Olympic Games, congratulated London Wednesday after it narrowly beat Paris to win the right to host the 2012 Games Wednesday.

Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Game, sent a congratulatory message to London bid leader Sebastian Coe, after the International Olympic Committees (IOC) awarded the Games to London, reported by the People's Daily on Thursday.

England soccer captain David Beckham (R) and his wife Victoria arrive at a party of celebrations, after the IOC announced London as the host for the 2012 Olympic Games, in Singapore, July 6, 2005. [Reuters]

Liu believed London would make the 2012 Games a success and leave precious legacy for the coming generations by organizing the Olympics. He hoped Beijing and London could cooperate and work together to contribute to the Olympics Games.

Beijing, being the host of the 2008 Olympic Games, was reminded of the exciting moment four years ago on Wednesday night when London beat Paris by 54-50 in the final round voting.

"We fully understand the excitement people in London enjoyed at this moment. Still fresh in our memory, is the similar joy we experienced when Beijing was announced the winner to host the 2008 Olympic Game four years ago," stated a People's Daily commentary.

China was not any of the five contestants, but it was still an important player in the process. Chinese athletes were invited to support London, Paris and New York, said the paper.

Gao Min, gold medal winner of 3-meter-diving in the 1988 and 1992 Games in Seoul and Barcelona, was invited to the New York bidding committee, but New York was eliminated in the second round of voting. Ding Junhui, the winner of the international youth snooker competition, was one of the London's representatives. And Liu Xiang, men's 110-meter hurdles, was invited by Paris to support its bid.

Beijing has speeded up its preparations for the 2008 Games after Greece, the host of the most expensive 2004 Athens Games, recommended it to get started early. However, last year, the progress in Beijing was so far ahead that the IOC suggested it to slow down, fearing early completion of venues could lead to economic losses.

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