(CN) Olympic support

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NGOs support Beijing's bid for 2008 Olympics

by WANG YING

05/23/2001

 

Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games has not only aroused awareness

across the country but also gained support from abroad.

Four US non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have concluded that China's

progress and commitment to the environment justifies Beijing's successful

bid for the Olympics in 2008.

 

The four environmental protection organizations - the Humane Society of the

United States, EarthVoice, US-China Environmental Fund (USCEF), and the US

National Association for Interpretation - have been touring China and have

had the opportunity to monitor environmental progress throughout the country

over the last week.

 

" We have seen the sincere and serious commitment of the government at the

highest levels to protect wildlife. Therefore, we strongly support the

Beijing bid for the Olympics in 2008, " said Paul Irwin, president of the

Humane Society of the United States.

 

He was speaking in a meeting with Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee

officials on Saturday in Beijing.

 

The buzz words of " green Olympics " have been welcomed by the humane society

which is said to be the largest animal protection organization in the world.

 

Today, the Olympic Games is not simply a sports contest but an event closely

related to other factors such as culture and environment, Irwin said.

 

Members from the four organizations expressed their admiration over

biodiversity in China when visiting the Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve in

Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sunday.

 

Citing the huge diversity of species and the variety of ecosystems in China,

Jan Hartke, executive director of EarthVoice, a Washington-based NGO

focusing on sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, said:

" The wonderful untold story of China is the extraordinary beauty and

diversity of this vast country. The Olympics will be enriched by showcasing

China's wild, world-class parks and protected areas. "

 

Based on the rapid development of China's environmental protection sector,

including the broad participation of the public and emerging NGOs, the four

US NGOs said they are very confident Beijing is capable of hosting a green

Olympics in 2008.

 

China's successful bid for the Games will become a powerful force to drive

change and a green Beijing, and to also advance environmental protection for

all the people of China, Hartke said.

 

 

 

Front page photograph:

While promoting the conservation of the giant panda at the Wolong Nature

Reserve in Sichuan Province, US NGOs enthusiastically offered their support

for Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

First row from left to right: Marc Brody, president of the US-China

Environmental Fund; Paul Irwin, president of the Humane Society of the

United States; Jan Hartke, executive director of EarthVoice and Zhang Hemin,

deputy director of the Wolong Nature Reserve, pose with pandas raised in the

reserve. Second row from left to right: Andrew Rowan and John Grandy ,

vice-presidents of the Humane Society of the United States. [LAMB/USCEF]