Source: CCTV.com

08-14-2008 15:24

He is a close friend of the Chinese people, who have known him since 2001, when he was President of the Evaluation Commission for the 29th Olympic Games. Today, people also know him as the Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing. As part of our coverage of the Beijing Olympics, Up-Close is pleased to interview Mr. Hein Verbruggen, and to highlight the close relationships between him and his many Chinese friends.

Hein Verbruggen served from 1991 to 2005 as President of the International Cycling Union; in 2006, he was re-elected a member of the IOC. Most Chinese people know him from seven and half years ago when, in the capacity of President of the Evaluation Commission for the 29th Olympic Games, he led a team on a four-day trip to assess Beijing’s resolve and potential to host the Olympics. Back then, no one knew whether this man would bring good or bad luck to Beijing.

As time passed, the answer became clear. Following the decision to award the Olympic Games to Beijing, Mr. Verbruggen became increasingly active. He appeared at many Olympic-related events and was appointed Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. In frequent interviews, he addressed the two major topics the world’s media were most concerned about; press freedom and the environment. During a seven-year journey, he coordinated with BOCOG in preparing the 2008 Games. He once described organizing an Olympic Game as the most complicated corporate operation in the world.

 

Editor:Liu Fang