Jefferson Perez, Ecuadorian double Olympic medal winner, said China has amazed the world with the organization of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"Personally, I have attended the best Olympics in history in Beijing," Perez said in an interview with Xinhua.

Perez, who won the only Olympic medal for Ecuador in Beijing, described the Bird Nest and the Water Cube as "truly art works" and highly applauded the Chinese People, saying they were "very hospitable."

Perez, born in the city of Cuenca, 300 km south of Quito, said that China presented to the world its technological advance during the Games, but kept intact and "pure" its 5,000-year culture.

"Among all the countries I have visited, I have never found a place like China where I was culturally enriched, but when I walked down the streets I also found the technological advance of today or perhaps tomorrow," he said.

"I felt lucky to conclude my sports career after competing at the best Olympiad in history," Perez said, adding he will spend his time at an education foundation and business activities after retirement.

Perez won a gold medal in the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and a silver in Beijing. He also won the first prize at various top sports functions.

In Ecuador, Perez is considered the best sportsman of all the times.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2008)