Beijing Games organisers deliver all they promised-IOC

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Feb 8 (Reuters) Preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympics are fully on course with Chinese organisers setting new standards, the International Olympic Committee said today.

''We are very, very happy with the way it is going,'' IOC chief inspector for the Beijing Games Hein Verbruggen told reporters after an IOC executive board meeting. ''There are no delays whatsoever in any aspect of the organisation.'' Verbruggen also praised Chinese organisers' efforts to improve air quality and the environment ahead of the Games, the biggest obstacle Beijing has faced preparing for the Olympics.

''We have got very good guarantees. It is clear that environmental problems are pretty well handled,'' Verbruggen said.

''They (the organisers) are prepared to take all measures to take care of it...they deliver what they have promised.'' Beijing city officials said last month the capital had ''good air'' on nearly two thirds of days last year but progress on beating pollution would be more difficult in the months until the Olympics.

GREEN OLYMPICS When it bid to host the Olympics, Beijing made commitments to improve the environment in the city and one of the three pillars of the Games is a 'Green Olympics'.

The city spent 20 billion yuan (2.57 billion dollar) fighting pollution last year, taking 15,000 old taxis and 3,000 old buses off the road, closing down a large chemical factory and starting to move a huge steel plant to the neighbouring Hebei province.

The emissions from five large power stations in the city have been treated to remove pollutants and dust, while 15,000 industrial boilers in the city centre have been upgraded.

Verbruggen said the changes were not only for the Olympics but would be a permanent legacy of the Games.

''I would not like to give the impression that what they are doing for the environment is only for the Games,'' he said.

Verbruggen also praised Beijing's cultural programme that will run alongside the Games.

''They have an incredible cultural programme. They are setting new standards not only in the cultural programme,'' he added.

REUTERS SAM PM1821