President of Interational Canoe Federation (ICF) Ulrich Feldhoff said on Friday that Beijing has the best competition venues and wished paddlers to achieve what they want.

Speaking at a press conference one hour before the finals kick off in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, the president said the weather conditions and venue conditions are good.

"The conditions here are optimum and we are happy to have Olympics here," he told reporters through a translator.

On the week in the lake, he said that almost every venue has the weed problem and the organizers are doing their best to ensure there will be no weed hindrance.

He also said that the ICF is trying to promote the sport of canoeing and kayaking in the developing countries in Asia, South America and Africa.

"We have to do a lot to improve performance level in some continents," he said.

IFC officials at the press conference also hailed China for the organizing work and lauded China's progress made in the sport in recent years.

"I think China has achieved much progress in recent years. You have so many boats in the events and in the finals. This is a clear signal that China is doing very well," the ICF official in charge of news affairs told Xinhua.

He said that the venue is an important Olympic legacy, not only for China, but for the whole Asia as well.

"I hope more regional and national competitions to be held here," he said, adding that this would be good for promotion of performance level of the whole continent.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)