Special report: 2008 Olympic Games     

Juan Antonio Samaranch, former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), gets on his car to head for the hotel upon his arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2008. Samaranch arrived in Beijing at about 9 a.m. Thursday. (Xinhua/Chen Xie) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Former International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonia Samaranch arrived in Beijing on Thursday to attend the Beijing Olympic Games.

    Samaranch, turning 88 on July 17, was received by red carpets and bunches of flowers at the Beijing International Airport and directly taken to the VIP room before leaving at 9:50.

    Now the honorary president of IOC, Samaranch announced Beijing was awarded the right to hold the 2008 Games in Moscow on July 13, 2001.

    He said he would be present thorough out the Games and was confident Beijing would host a successful Games when he was interviewed by People's Daily in May.