Premier promises clean, scenic Beijing during and after Olympics

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday promised to maintain a clean, green and beautiful Beijing during and after the Olympic Games.

Five days ahead of the Games, Wen visited athletes in training as well as volunteers and utility workers.

"China is a responsible country. We will fulfill the promises we made for the Olympics. We will not only host high-quality and unique Games, but also build a more scenic, greener and more civilized city in a sustainable manner," he said.

Through the efforts of the whole society, China would host a grand sport event that satisfies the world, the athletes and audiences, he
said.

On Sunday morning, Wen, with senior officials of BOCOG, including Liu Qi, Liu Yandong and Guo Jinlong, visited the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in the west of the city.

The Chinese Men's National Basketball Team was training at the stadium. Wen shook hands with the players and coaches, including NBA star Yao Ming, who had recovered from his left foot injury.

"Are you feeling well? Is your foot okay?" Wen asked China's most famous basketball player.

"I loved playing basketball when I was a kid. It is still my favorite game," Wen said, joining the players to shoot hoops.

The Chinese team will play its first game of the Beijing Olympics against the United States on Aug. 10.

"Your first game will attract great attention. What you need is confidence and composure. No matter whether you win or lose, it is important to play with a sporting spirit," Wen said. "I hope you can win glory, dignity and friendship, displaying the true personality of the Chinese."

The team presented Wen with a basketball signed by the whole squad, and Wen also signed the ball used in the game he played.

He also met with volunteers working at the stadium and encouraged them to serve "in a careful and serious manner with a strong sense of responsibility."

Wen's next stop was the Dajing neighborhood near the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field, where the Olympic Softball events will be held.

Old buildings in the neighborhood have been renovated, trees and grass planted and sport facilities built for residents.

Wen dropped in at the house of Shi Lin, who told him he was quite happy about the changes in his neighborhood.

The city's efforts to develop infrastructure and protect the environment had improved living conditions, he said.

　"The Games are very short, but what is left behind will last," Wen said. "I, together with Liu Qi (Beijing party chief), promise that Beijing will stay as clean as now after the Olympics."

Noting that many local people were Olympic volunteers, Wen expressed appreciation for their efforts to keep the city safe and stable and to serve the visitors.

About one million Beijing residents have become volunteers.

Later Wen visited a power plant of the China Huadian Corporation, which is to supply electricity for the Games. The plant, fueled by natural gas, has adopted eco-friendly technologies, including a cooling system that uses recycled water.

As Wen was overseeing preparatory work in western and southern Beijing, about 8,000 technicians were busy testing information services for the Games in the Digital Beijing Building, a comprehensive information facility in the city's north near the National Stadium, or Bird's Nest.

They are to provide technical services for 31 competition venues, 15 non-competition venues and venues in co-host cities in the next five days.

"There is no second chance for us. Once the Games start, our work has to be successful," said Yang Yichun, director of the BOCOG Technology Department. "We are confident of technical support."

On the street near the Bird's Nest, a police motorcycle escort team was launched on Sunday to lead the way for Olympic-related vehicles and cavalcades.

South of the Bird's Nest, Han Rubing and her family were getting their home ready as one of the Olympic home-stay families.

She and her husband have been improving their cooking skills.

"I hope my home can be a small window for foreigners to learn about China and the Chinese," said the university teacher.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles from Beijing, the Olympic torch started its three-day relay in southwestern Sichuan Province, which was devastated by a major earthquake on May 12.

On the first stop, Guang'an, people shouted "Go China" and "Go Sichuan" after a one-minute silent tribute for earthquake victims.

Sichuan will be the last stop before the torch reaches Beijing.

7月３日上午，中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理温家宝来到北京市，深入场馆、社区和能源企业考察奥运保障等工作。他强调，要认真做好各项保障工作，通过大家的共同努力，真正把奥运会办成让国际社会满意、运动员满意、人民群众满意的国际盛会。

自２００１年北京申奥成功后，温家宝就一直关心奥运筹办工作。近年来，他多次主持召开国务院常务会议，听取北京奥运会筹办工作汇报，研究奥运筹办工作，并多次前往国家体育场、国家游泳中心等奥运场馆和首都机场扩建工程等配套基础设施现场进行考察，对奥运筹办工作提出了明确要求。

距离奥运会开幕还有５天。上午８时４０分许，温家宝在中共中央政治局委员、北京市委书记、北京奥组委主席刘淇，中共中央政治局委员、国务委员、北京奥组委副主席刘延东，北京市市长、北京奥组委执行主席郭金龙等陪同下来到位于五棵松的奥林匹克篮球馆，看望志愿者和运动员。他叮嘱志愿者们，现在奥运会筹办工作已经进入最后冲刺阶段，要认真负责、一丝不苟、毫不松懈、精益求精地做好各项工作，用良好的服务确保奥运会的顺利进行。篮球馆里，中国男子篮球队正在训练。温家宝走到他们中间，和教练员、运动员一一握手，并亲切地问姚明“身体还好吗？”“脚还可以吧？”他兴致勃勃地对大家说，我也投个篮，随后他拿起一个篮球，一边拍一边跑步上篮，连投了５个球。当球投进篮球筐时，全场响起热烈的掌声。

在奥运小组赛中，中国男篮首场将迎战实力雄厚的美国队。温家宝说，我小时候也是个篮球运动爱好者。我最爱看篮球赛。你们的第一场比赛就举世关注，要有信心，沉住气，把球打好，不管输赢，首先要有精神。他赠给中国男篮一句话：要用精彩的比赛为祖国赢得荣誉，赢得尊严，赢得友谊，表现出中国人民的精神风貌。他还向所有的中国篮球运动员问好，并通过大家向全体参加奥运会的中国运动员问好。离开前，姚明代表中国男篮向总理赠送了一个签有队员名字的篮球。总理也应邀在自己刚才打过的篮球上签名留念。

丰台区大井社区位于丰台体育中心一侧。近年来，通过旧楼改造、建设绿地等措施，居民生活环境明显改善。上午９时许，温家宝一行来到这个社区，看到这里楼新路宽环境美，居民还有自己的健身场所，许多人正在这里活动，他十分高兴，便兴致勃勃地和群众打起了乒乓球。温家宝对围拢过来的群众说，奥运在我家，成功靠大家，你们的口号很好。北京近年来进行的基础设施建设、场馆建设、绿化建设和环保建设，一方面是为奥运会的举办创造条件，另一方面也是为北京的可持续发展和改善民生创造条件。北京市委市政府做了大量工作，居民也付出很大努力。奥运会会结束，而大家还要长期生活在这里，要让居民成为奥运会最大的受益者。

看到不少居民戴着红袖章，当上了志愿者，听说全市有１００多万志愿者，温家宝说，奥运志愿者维护社会治安，搞好社会服务，促进社会和谐，用实际行动参与奥运，为奥运会做出了贡献。他走进居民史林家，亲切询问生活情况，看到这家人对现在生活环境的改善很满意，温家宝笑着说，奥运会是短暂的，但是留下的精神却是永远的。我和刘淇书记立个保证，奥运会后，北京还要保持这么干净，北京要永远干净。

最后，温家宝来到为奥运提供能源保障的华电（北京）热电有限公司。这个企业用天然气发电，用余热发电，用循环水冷却，实现了节能环保的目标。看到厂房清洁，环境优美。温家宝说，我们是一个负责任的国家，一定要认真履行奥运会的各项承诺，把奥运会办好，办出特色、办出水平。同时，要继续努力，让北京越来越美、越来越绿、越来越文明，实现可持续发展。