International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge spoke highly of BOCOG's preparations for the Olympic Games, which will begin on Friday, at a press conference following the 120th plenary session of the IOC. Rogge said both the IOC and he were excited about the arrival of the Olympics after seven long years of preparation. "We look forward to the competitions", he said.

Rogge said each edition of the Olympics has its own unique characteristics, but the Beijing Olympic Games will be hosted in China, which is home to one fifth of the world's population.

The Olympic Games have helped the world get a better understanding of what China is and its mysterious centuries-long tradition and culture, he said, adding that a great country, which has undergone significant changes, will be presented to the outside world.

He affirmed that Beijing's air quality is safe for athletes and that recent fog is the result of heat and humidity.

He told reporters at the press conference that there are 24 monitoring stations, and Beijing is capable of forecasting weather for 72 hours. The IOC will monitor the air quality frequently.

He said both FIFA President Joseph. S. Blatter and he appealed to football clubs that they can release young talented footballers for Olympic Games when responding to a reporter's question that the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) of the IOC ruled in favor of clubs regarding to whether they are supposed to send players to take part in Olympics.

Present at the press conference was Richard Kevan Gosper, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Press Commission Chairperson.

(BOCOG August 8, 2008)