Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Summer Games received firm backing from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday, but the Chinese authorities were warned it would be "inappropriate" to stage any events in Tiananmen Square, scene of the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy protesters.
The 103-page report of the IOC's first bid evaluation commission said Beijing, Toronto and Paris could all offer "excellent bids", but reserved its strongest praise for the Chinese capital. "It is the commission's belief that a Beijing Games would leave a unique legacy to China and to sport, and the commission is confident that Beijing would organise an excellent Games," the report said.
The document focused on technical matters and did not address China's human rights record or other political issues. It did, however, admit to unease over a plan to stage the beach volleyball in Tiananmen Square, and Beijing is now thought likely to heed the message and quietly drop that idea.
"The combination of a good sports concept with complete government support results in a high-quality bid," the report said. "The commission notes the process and pace of change taking place in China and Beijing and the possible challenges caused by population and economic growth in the period leading up to 2008, but is confident that these challenges can be met."
The rival bid authorities in Paris and Toronto, working hard to overtake Beijing before the final vote on a venue is taken by a secret ballot of the 126 members at the IOC congress in Moscow on July 13th, could also draw some encouragement from yesterday's publication.
On Paris, the report said: "The use of existing facilities, mainly in the centre of one of the world's most recognised cities, presents the Olympic movement with an attractive option."
On Toronto, the report said: "The compact sports concept based on a unique site adjacent to the city centre with good transport links and a legacy to sport make the bid very attractive."
Bids from Osaka and Istanbul, both considered long shots, were virtually eliminated with poor evaluation reports.
The Beijing bid organisers were delighted with the report and issued a statement saying: "Today is a very good day indeed for the people of Beijing, for the people of China and for the Olympic movement. There is one question on the minds of many: it concerns the role of politics in choosing the next Olympic city. The IOC has clearly stated that political factors will not play a part in the selection of the host city. The IOC's report reinforces this point."
That, of course, was not a sentiment shared by the 50 Tibetan exiles who demonstrated against Beijing's bid outside the IOC's Lausanne headquarters yesterday, with placards bearing messages such as No Olympics For China Until Tibet Is Free, and Free All Political Prisoners.
Many IOC delegates, and some human rights activists, believe that awarding the games to Beijing would help speed the reform process in China. Even the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader, last week declared that China "deserves to be the Olympic host" if it meant better human rights.
The evaluation report, prepared by an IOC commission which includes Britain's Craig Reedie and the Ukrainian former pole vaulter Sergei Bubka, carries much weight since IOC members are now prohibited from visiting the bid cities in the wake of the Salt Lake City scandal. It will be the first time the IOC's 126 members have voted on the destination of the Summer Games without having the opportunity to visit the bidding cities.
