Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    QINGDAO, East China, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Members of ISAF (International Sailing Federation) spoke highly of the preparation efforts for and the venue of the 29th Olympic sailing events here Sunday.

    The members who had been attending the mid-year meeting of ISAF since last Thursday in Qingdao, inspected the boat parking area, slipway and some other facilities of the Olympic sailing center and listened to the reports on the preparation work for the ongoing 2008 IFDS (International Association for Disabled Sailing) Qingdao International Regatta and the upcoming 29th Olympic sailing events.

    ISAF President Goran Peterson said," Qingdao has done a very good start. Everybody would go home from the Olympics and tell people what a great sailing city Qingdao is."

    Constantine, honorary president of ISAF, who came to Qingdao for the first time expressed, on the main breakwater in the sailing center, his appreciation that the preparation efforts for the 29th Olympic sailing events was good and the venue was spacious and the best he had ever seen.

    Constantine also voiced his worry for the possible lack of wind during the sailing events. However, he said he was confident that the wind would be satisfying in August.

    The ongoing 2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta, the only test event for the 2008 Paralympic sailing competition attracts the teams from 16 countries and regions and will run from May 8 to16.

    Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong province, will be the venue for the sailing competition of the 2008 Olympic Games from August 8 to 24.