Cities Make Pitch for Hosting 2008 Olympics

M O S C O W, July 12 -- Smiling through questions about executions and human rights, Beijing officials made a polished pitch today for the 2008 Olympics, avoiding any last-minute blunders that could derail their candidacy.

At their final news conferences before the International OlympicCommittee chooses the 2008 host on Friday, all five bidding citiessought to project the message that they would put on the bestGames.

Paris promised a telegenic Olympics in the shadow of the EiffelTower. Toronto portrayed itself as the athletes' bid, with sportingvenues along its waterfront. Osaka, Japan, and Istanbul, Turkey, insistedthey were still in the running despite doubts expressed by Olympicinspectors.

All Eyes on Beijing

But on a day when two more anti-Chinese protesters were detainedwhile trying to hand out leaflets outside the IOC meeting complex,attention focused on Beijing, which has led the race for months.The news conference was one of the last hurdles for Chineseofficials keen to avoid any mistake that could turn IOC sentimentagainst them.

Would China — the world leader in executions — stop using thedeath penalty? Would a foreign tourist be arrested for protestingwith a Tibetan flag? Would reporters be allowed to work freely?

The responses to these and other tricky questions were deliveredin fluent English by relaxed officials who never came close tolosing their cool. They complimented reporters on their questionsand smiled almost constantly.

Wang Wei, secretary-general of the Beijing bid, noted that Chinais not the only nation to use the death penalty. Journalists,meanwhile, would have "complete freedom to report on anything" ifBeijing wins, he said.

As for protests, Wang said: "If you have a different opinionyou are welcome to voice it." But he also noted that Chinese lawrequires would-be demonstrators get police permission — which isalmost never given.

Wang repeated what has become a Beijing mantra in its race for2008 — that the Olympics would promote not just economicdevelopment in China, but human rights, too.