Beijing has made impressive progress in its preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials said today.
A 23-strong team of delegates spent three days with the Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) this week, monitoring its progress and visiting a number of venues.
"The Coordination Commission is very impressed by what we've seen over the last days and I think that it is not exaggerated if we state that BOCOG is well ahead of our expectations," commission leader Hein Verbruggen said.
That praise contrasts with IOC reports from Athens, host city for the 2004 Games, which have highlighted a number of problems.
Athens organisers have struggled with building deadlines, transportation projects and the accommodation requirements for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who are expected to visit the Greek capital.
Beijing has plans to build new roads and subway lines and improve the environment. It has even launched campaigns to boost manners in the capital to make it a more pleasant place for visiting sports fans and athletes.