Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over a meeting of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on the final stage of preparatory work for the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics.

    The Beijing Olympic Organization Committee's work has accomplished great achievements in the preparations for the Olympiad, with firm support from all Chinese both at home and abroad, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the international community, and in collaboration with the municipal governments of Beijing and other sub-host cities, according to the meeting.

    "The preparation work has been going very well, and we are basically ready for the Games," the meeting was told. The 29th Olympiad takes place August 8-24, and the Beijing Paralympics from September 6-17.

    The Olympic Torch Relay has ended its overseas tour and is going on between Chinese cities, while other issues relating to the city management, security, publicity, foreign affairs and training of athletes were also being further intensified. In addition, preparations for the Paralympics were also under way.

    The Party and the people should work diligently to continue the current anti-earthquake campaign and promote the economic and social development, according to the meeting.

    It said China was confident of doing a good job during the Olympics and making it a high-level event, so as to satisfy the international community, athletes of different countries and regions, and the Chinese people.

    Great efforts should be made for the preparations of the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, it said.

    It also called for ensuring the safety of the Games and actively carrying out international cooperation for securing its safety, so as to achieve a peaceful and safe Olympiad.

    The meeting also encouraged Chinese athletes to work hard in training and foster a patriotic sense to achieve goods results both in sport and morality.

    It promised to provide convenience to overseas journalists in covering the Games in accordance with international practice.