The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge started his six-day tour of five Chinese cities on Tuesday, including the visit here to attend the opening ceremony of China's 10th National Games.

Rogge's first stop is Beijing, the host city for the 2008 Olympics, where he met the high-level officials of the organising committee and visit some Olympic venues under construction.

He will then bound for Nanjing to attend the opening ceremony of the National Games on Wednesday night as well as a visit to Nanjing Museum for the sixth Chinese Sports Arts Exhibition.

The tenth National Games is the biggest ever sport meet in the history of Chinese sports, and has been regarded as a preview of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Besides Rogge, more than 10 IOC members will also attend the opening ceremony of the quadrennial games, including Hein Verbruggen, president of IOC's Cordination Commission for the Beijing Olympics, and Richard Kevin Gosper, the Coordination Commission's vice president.

Rogge's next stop is Xi'an, where he will meet local governmentleaders and sports officials and pay visits to some historical places like the Terra-cotta Army Museum and Shaanxi History Museum.

After having a taste of the Chinese history, he will leave for two modern cities of Qingdao and Shanghai.

During his stay in Qingdao, the sailing venue for the 2008 Olympics, he will hear the presentation by the local organising committee and inspect the sailing venue.

His China tour will end up in Shanghai on Sunday when the economic hub of China will host the F1 Grand Prix Final.

Rogge will attend the opening ceremony of the Grand Prix and watch the racing before leaving on Sunday night. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)