Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    By Jiang Yaping

    SYDNEY, July 10 (Xinhua) -- John Coates, President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), said here on Thursday that the Beijing Olympic Games would certainly be successful.

    Coates told Xinhua that the Chinese government has made good preparations for the games. "This will be a successful games, like every other Olympic Games. They will help bring the better understanding between the youth of the world."

    He said the Australian team was particularly looking forward to the Olympic Games because of the close ties between the two countries. "We have a large Chinese population in Australia. The will support the two teams."

    He also said Australia will send a strong team of 435 Olympic athletes to Beijing and the athletes were in the last stages of preparation as the countdown to the Beijing Olympics has just entered its final month.

    Talking about the prospect of the performance of the participating teams, Coates said he predicted that China would top the list of Olympic medals. However, "We also have a strong team and excellent prospects. For the country of 21 million population, I believe we can maintain our position in the top five on the medal table," with an expected 40 to 45 medals.

    In the past two Games in Athens and Sydney, Australia has finished number four, just behind the three super powers, the US, China and Russia in the overall medal standings.

    Coates has visited Beijing many times and came back recently. "Nothing could be more obvious, when we observe the quality of the new sporting venues, the Olympic Village, new International Airport terminal and everything else, that our Chinese hosts are providing to ensure that these are most excellent Games," he said.

    However, he added, the Olympic Games are more than just sporting competitions and new sports venues. They promote peace and understanding between the athletes who will live together in the Beijing Olympic Village as well as the youth of the world.

    When asked why Australian, with a small population, could be so strong in sporting and Olympic competition, Coates explained that sporting has always been the part of its culture.

    He recalled the Australian team was not performing well 30 years ago. In Montreal Olympics in 1972, "We only won 4 medals, no gold. Then the Australian government and the Olympic Committee started to make concerted efforts to gradually improve our position."

    The AOC president particularly mentioned the Sydney Olympic Games, saying that games had greatly stimulated sports in Australia as the government had put great focus on the Olympic Games.

    "I think you will find the same in Beijing," he added with smile.