Beijing's Bid for Games Controversial for Number of Reasons
KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: Beijing's bid for the Games is controversial for a number of reasons. CNN's Mike Chinoy spoke to a member of the Beijing bid committee who defended the city's right, and ability to hold the Games.</s>MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the International Olympic Committee prepares to vote, one of the key figures in charge of Beijing's bid is shrugging off calls from human rights activist and critics in the U.S. Congress that the city should be denied the Game because of China's human rights record.</s>LIU JINGMIN, DEP. PRES. BEIJING BID COMM. (through translator): As far as Beijing's bid is concerned, we have always believed that politics should be separated from sports. It should be up to the members of the IOC to decide which city should host the Olympics. I don't think the opposition from some U.S. congressmen will make significant difference to our bid.</s>CHINOY: Among the concerns raised about Beijing, the massive Olympic construction projects that critics claim would destroy what's left of the city's traditional character, and force tens of thousands of citizens from their homes.</s>LIU (through translator): If we won the Olympics, we would be doing a lot of construction, but the most of these projects would be located in the suburbs, not the old city center. Relocating residents is an incredibly difficult task. Sometimes you can even see lots of people protesting about it outside city hall. But according to new regulations, any residents to be relocated will receive reasonable compensation.</s>CHINOY: Beijing's notorious air pollution is considered another potential drawback, but officials insist getting the Olympics will spur environmental improvement.</s>LIU (through translator): If we are to host successful Olympic games we have to promote environmental ideas among our citizens. This a is worldwide trend, and also need of our city. That's why we have come up with the idea of green Olympics. Now we are launching a 10-year environmental protection plan, and one of the priorities is to make Beijing a green city.</s>CHINOY: In 1993, Beijing lost its bid stage the 2000 Olympics, which were held in Sydney, Australia. Given rising nationalistic sentiment here and continuing tensions with the United States, there are concerns that if at Beijing fails in its bid this time, there could be anti-Western backlash.</s>LIU (through translator): Our ultimate goal is to win the bid, but it's possible we won't. It's just like a sports competition. As in 1993, some may be surprised or disappointed by the result, but it will not affect the Chinese's people's quest for the Olympics or our future policy reform and opening up to the outside world. So losing won't be that bad. We will definitely be bidding again.</s>CHINOY: Mike Chinoy, CNN, Beijing.