(ATR) Fair skies and a stiff breeze provided an auspicious start to the first test event for the Beijing Olympics, the international sailing regatta in Qingdao.
Known as the Good Luck Beijing CNC 2006 Qingdao International Regatta, the event will continue through August 31, 560km southeast of Beijing.
This largest-ever sailing event in the history of Chinese sport has drawn more than 460 competitors from 41 countries.
"I think venue-wise we're very happy of where we are up to," International Sailing Federation vice president David Kellet tells Around the Rings.
Kellet says organizers of the sailing venue have met their target for "completeness" of the facility with two years to go before the Olympics.
"Out on the water it's as we expected. Integrating international technical officials and the national Chinese officials, is quite a coordination exercise.
"There's a learning curve on both sides," he says about this first-time experience for China to host a major sailing event.
But he says one of the payoffs will be the "elevation to Olympic standards of 50 to 60 race officials".
"We need more experience," admits Li Fengli, deputy secretary general of the Qingdao committee.
"This year gives a nice opportunity to practice, to test our team, all the facilities, all the city," Li tells ATR.
About 1,000 staff and volunteers are working on the regatta, he says. Another is scheduled for next August, but the dates are not set.
Ser Miang Ng, IOC member from Singapore and Olympian in sailing, says his visit to Qingdao revealed only "teething problems", most of them related to the new experience of Chinese and international officials working together.
Still, he describes the efforts of the Qingdao committee "beyond expectations".
"It works," he says.
Li says the last big project needed for the venue -- a sub-Olympic village -- won't be complete until closer to the Games. The location will allow athletes to step out of their beds and head down to their boats within minutes, without the need for a security check.
Ng says he is impressed with the way the city of Qingdao has integrated the Olympic marina into the overall development of the city.
The reclaimed shipyard now includes a new promenade along a 1km-long breakwater that is anchored at one end by a lighthouse. On Monday, thousands of people sat under umbrella-shaded tables lining the breakwater, watching the opening day of racing.
"It will influence the city a lot," says Li about the legacy of the project.
"This place will have a history. I believe tourists and the local people, when they stand here afterwards they will say 'this is where the Olympics were held'," he explained.
On-the-scene coverage of Olympic preparations in China continues through the week at www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.
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