Source: Xinhua

08-24-2008 22:22

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is pleased by the smooth organization of the Beijing Olympic Games, said IOC president Jacques Rogge here on the closing day of the Games on Sunday.

Rogge, speaking at the press conference prior to the closing ceremony of the 17-day sports gala in the Chinese capital, praised the Games organizers.

"The International Olympic Committee is extremely pleased by the organization of the Games. BOCOG has dearly put the athletes in the center of these Games," said the 66-year-old Belgian.

"We have the splendid village. We have the state-of-the-art venues and we have incredible operation," he said.

Opening on July 27, the 66-hectare Olympic Village provided accommodation to 15,000 athletes and officials from 204 countries and regions.