China's "Mr Olympics" nears fulfillment of dream

By Nick Mulvenney

BEIJING (Reuters) - Although many thousands of people have worked on the project, few would begrudge He Zhenliang a feeling of personal satisfaction when the Beijing Olympics open on Friday.

The lighting of the flame at the 'Bird's Nest' stadium will be the culmination of more than half a century of looking after China's Olympic interests for the now honorary chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

"It's my dream," the 78-year-old told Reuters. "I hope the Games will satisfy the expectations of my people, the Chinese people, and also the people of the world.

"If the Beijing Games make everybody happy, that will be my personal satisfaction."

He had his first experience of Olympic politics before the 1952 Helsinki Games.

Sport in the new People's Republic had been reorganized but the general secretary of the previous sports administration had fled with the Nationalists to Taiwan.

"That caused some problems," He recalled. "The IOC didn't send us an invitation. We asked several times ... and finally on the day of the opening ceremony, we received the invitation. They said you can both send delegations."

Secure in the knowledge that Taiwan would be unable to get a team to Finland, 40 Chinese set off across Russia by air.

"We took several days and nights to get there and five days before the closing ceremony, we reached there," He said.

"Only our swimmer had a chance to take part. Unfortunately after four days of flight, it was impossible for him to give a good performance.

"But he was the first result of a 'New China' athlete at the Olympic Games."

He was also to be the last for 28 years.

SOLE REPRESENTATIVES

At an IOC session in 1954, a vote was passed to recognize the People's Republic as the sole representatives of China.

"Everybody thought the problem of representation was settled," He said, his anger still evident. "But at this time the American (IOC President) Avery Brundage, with no discussion at all, he personally, individually, decided to keep (Taiwan). It was totally against the charter. It was totally arbitrary."