Proposals of cutting several events and disciplines from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will be discussed again as the executive committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) begins next week to review the program to reduce the size of the Games.
Since his election in Moscow in 2001, IOC President Jacques Rogge has made it clear that he will move to control the size of the Games.
Although he failed last December in Mexico to have three sports cut from the 2008 Olympics -- baseball, softball and modern pentathlon -- when the IOC Session voted down the plan, Rogge is determined to scale down the number of events.
The executive committee has the power to cut events and disciplines and a full discussion on which will face the axe starts here on Thursday.
Rogge has confirmed that some events and disciplines in wrestling, athletics, badminton, canoeing, shooting and sailing will be under scrutiny.
Rogge has made it clear that the 28 sports in the Summer Olympics do not have a divine right to remain in the Games.
Liu Qi, president of Beijing Organizing Committee of the 2008 Olympic Games, briefed the IOC on Friday on the city's preparations for the 2008 Games, via satellite hookup with the IOC Executive Board.
(China Daily February 22, 2003)
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