Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) President Liu Qi (R) and IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen (L) play table tennis during the opening of the IOC Coordination Commission meeting at the BOCOG headquarters in Beijing April 17, 2007. REUTERS/Minoru Iwasaki/Pool (CHINA) 

Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) President Liu Qi attends the opening of the IOC Coordination Commission meeting at the BOCOG headquarters in Beijing April 17, 2007. REUTERS/Minoru Iwasaki/Pool (CHINA) 

Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) President Liu Qi (C) attends the opening of the IOC Coordination Commission meeting at the BOCOG headquarters in Beijing April 17, 2007. REUTERS/Minoru Iwasaki/Pool (CHINA) 

Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) President Liu Qi (top left) and IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen (R) attend the opening of the IOC Coordination Commission meeting at the BOCOG headquarters in Beijing April 17, 2007. REUTERS/Minoru Iwasaki/Pool (CHINA) 

President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Liu Qi (R) holds a volunteer logo at the start of a ceremony to recruit volunteers for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing January 19, 2007. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) 

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (R) meets with Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), in Jerusalem November 22, 2006. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM) 

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (L) shakes hands with Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), during their meeting in Jerusalem November 22, 2006. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM) 

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (C) arrives at his office to meet Chinese communist party politburo member and Beijing Olympics organising committee representative Liu Qi (not pictured) in Jerusalem November 22, 2006. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) smiles during his meeting with Chinese communist party politburo member and Beijing Olympics organising committee representative Liu Qi in Jerusalem November 22, 2006. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) shakes hands with Chinese communist party politburo member and Beijing Olympics organising committee representative Liu Qi during their meeting in Jerusalem November 22, 2006. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrives at his office to meet Chinese communist party politburo member and Beijing Olympics organising committee representative Liu Qi (not pictured) in Jerusalem November 22, 2006. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

France's President Jacques Chirac (C) pauses as he looks at statues below his feet at the Liu Qi grave museum in Xian October 28, 2006. Chirac pored over relics in China's first imperial capital on Saturday at the end of a 4-day state visit to a country which has opened its culture and huge market potential to the West. REUTERS/Patrick Kovarik/Pool (CHINA) 

France's President Jacques Chirac (R) pauses as he looks at statues of horses at the Liu Qi grave museum in Xian October 28, 2006. Chirac pored over relics in China's first imperial capital on Saturday at the end of a 4-day state visit to a country which has opened its culture and huge market potential to the West. REUTERS/Patrick Kovarik/Pool (CHINA) 

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (2nd L) and president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games Liu Qi (L) visit the site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games main stadium October 24, 2006. REUTERS/Takanori Sekine/Pool (CHINA) 

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (C) and Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) president Qi Liu (R) applaud during the opening ceremony of the World Forum at the event "Sport and a World of Harmony" in Beijing October 22, 2006. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause (CHINA) 

Liu Qi (L), president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympics Games (BOCOG), claps after U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (C) signs the guest book of the construction site of China's National Stadium for the Games as his wife Nane Annan looks on in Beijing May 23, 2006. REUTERS/Lucas Schifres/Pool 

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (C), his wife Nane Annan (R) and Party Secretary and President of the BOCOG (Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) Liu Qi (front L) look up at China's National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics under construction in Beijing May 23, 2006. China is crucial to the success of talks on reining in North Korea's nuclear programmes, Annan said on Tuesday as he urged Beijing to take a more active role in protecting human rights. REUTERS/Lucas Schifres/Pool 

Chairman of Beijing's Olympics Organising Committee, Liu Qi (R) introduces London's Mayor,Ken Livingstone to the media in Beijing April 11, 2006. Livingstone is on a three-day visit to Beijing to view China's preparation for the Beijing Olympics 2008. REUTERS/Peter Parks/Pool 

Chairman of Beijing's Olympics Organising Committee, Liu Qi (R) introduces London's Mayor,Ken Livingstone (L) to the media in Beijing April 11, 2006. Livingstone is on a three-day visit to Beijing to view China's preparation for the Beijing Olympics 2008. REUTERS/Peter Parks/Pool 

IOC President Rogge and Chinese official Liu attend the launch of the Volunteer Programme for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing. International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge (C) and Liu Qi (R), member of the CPC Political Bureau, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and chairman of the Beijing Olympic Organisation Committee, attend the launch of the Volunteer Programme for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in the Chinese capital June 5, 2005. REUTERS/Jason Lee 

Chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party Soong gestures during his meeting with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi at Beijing Hotel. James Soong, chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party gestures during his meeting with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi (not in picture) at a Beijing Hotel May 10, 2005. Soong arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for bridge-building talks with the island's nemesis, the Chinese Communist Party, two months after China passed a law mandating war against the island. Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) that is struggling for survival after a dismal showing in parliamentary polls last December, follows Lien Chan, who last month became the first Kuomintang (KMT) leader to set foot on the mainland since the end of the civil war in 1949. REUTERS/Alfred Cheng Jin 

Chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party Soong shakes hands with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi at Beijing Hotel. James Soong (R), chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party shakes hands with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi at a Beijing Hotel May 10, 2005. Soong arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for bridge-building talks with the island's nemesis, the Chinese Communist Party, two months after China passed a law mandating war against the island. Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) that is struggling for survival after a dismal showing in parliamentary polls last December, follows Lien Chan, who last month became the first Kuomintang (KMT) leader to set foot on the mainland since the end of the civil war in 1949. REUTERS/Alfred Cheng Jin 

James Soong (L), chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party meets Beijing Mayor Liu Qi at a Beijing Hotel May 10, 2005. Soong arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for bridge-building talks with the island's nemesis, the Chinese Communist Party, two months after China passed a law mandating war against the island. Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) that is struggling for survival after a dismal showing in parliamentary polls last December, follows Lien Chan, who last month became the first Kuomintang (KMT) leader to set foot on the mainland since the end of the civil war in 1949. REUTERS/Alfred Cheng Jin ALF/VP 

Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan toasts Beijing Mayor Liu Qi (R) during a luncheon at Beijing Hotel April 28, 2005. Lien, chairman of the KMT, or Nationalist Party, flew to Beijing on Thursday to a red-carpet welcome and bouquet-waving children chanting "Welcome, welcome. (Wish you a) warm welcome". REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV/Pool CC/YH 

Beijing Mayor Liu Qi presents a "Nine Dragon Wall" souvenir to Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan at Beijing Hotel. Beijing Mayor Liu Qi (R) presents a "Nine Dragon Wall" souvenir to Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan at Beijing Hotel April 28, 2005. Lien, chairman of the KMT, or Nationalist Party, flew to Beijing on Thursday to a red-carpet welcome and bouquet-waving children chanting "Welcome, welcome. (Wish you a) warm welcome". REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV/Pool 

Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan (L) meets Beijing Mayor Liu Qi at Beijing Hotel April 28, 2005. Lien, chairman of the KMT, or Nationalist Party, flew to Beijing on Thursday to a red-carpet welcome and bouquet-waving children chanting "Welcome, welcome. (Wish you a) warm welcome". REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV/Pool CC/YH 

Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan (L) meets Beijing Mayor Liu Qi at Beijing Hotel April 28, 2005. Lien, chairman of the KMT, or Nationalist Party, flew to Beijing on Thursday to a red-carpet welcome and bouquet-waving children chanting "Welcome, welcome. (Wish you a) warm welcome". REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV/Pool CC/YH 

Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan (C) is greeted by Beijing Mayor Liu Qi (L) during a meeting in Beijing Hotel April 28, 2005. At the right is Lien's wife. Lien, chairman of the KMT, or Nationalist Party, flew to Beijing on Thursday to a red-carpet welcome on the tarmac and bouquet-waving children chanting 'Welcome, welcome. (Wish you a) warm welcome'. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV/Pool CC/YH 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (C), with Communist Party Secretary Liu Qi (L) and Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan (R), shovels soil during the plant cornerstone ceremony of the Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co. Ltd. December 6, 2004. Schroeder arrived in Beijing on Monday for a three-day trip likely to focus on expanding trade ties and the European Union ban on arms sales to China. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV CC/tw 

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC coordination commission, greets Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee, in Beijing. Chairman of the IOC coordination commission Hein Verbruggen (L) greets president of the Beijing Organising Committee Liu Qi at the start of the "3rd Meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad" in Beijing October 28, 2004. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged Beijing to ensure the city is ready to host the 2008 Games well in advance, an official said. IOC officials are in Beijing for a string of meetings with the Beijing Organising Committee and to take stock of China's preparations. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV 

Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Olympics organising committee, (L) and
Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee President, use giant
golden keys to symbolically "open the gates to the most important
market in the world," at a ceremony in Beijing September 1, 2003. Liu
and Rogge launched the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games marketing plan. Major
sponsors are expected to bid aggressively for the rights as China's is
potentially one of the world's biggest market for anything from mobile
phones to cars. REUTERS/Ng Han Guan/Pool

CP 

Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the Coordination Commission at the
International Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, (L),
congratulates Chinese National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo,
as Beijing Olympic Games chief Liu Qi applauds in front of the official
emblem for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, at the Temple of Heaven in
Beijing August 3, 2003. The celebration gala was hosted by the Beijing
organising committee to unveil the official emblem of the 2008 Olympic
Games in China's capital. REUTERS/Greg Baker/Pool

TW 

Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the Coordination Commission at the
International Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, (L),
Chinese National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo, (C) and Beijing
Olympic Games chief Liu Qi raise their arms after unveiling the
official emblem for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, at the Temple of
Heaven in Beijing Sunday August 3, 2003. The celebration gala was
hosted by the Beijing organising committee to unveil the official
emblem of the 2008 Olympic Games in China's capital. REUTERS/Greg
Baker/Pool

TW 

Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the Coordination Commission at the
International Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, (L),
Chinese National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo, (C) and Beijing
Olympic Games Chief Liu Qi unveil the official emblem for the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games, at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing Sunday August
3, 2003. The celebration gala was hosted by the Beijing organising
committee to unveil the official emblem of the 2008 Olympic Games in
China's capital. REUTERS/Pool

TW 

China's soccer players listen to the national anthem before their
friendly match against Brazil in Guangzhou February 12, 2003, which
ended in 0-0 draw. (From L) Li Weifeng, Liu Yunfei, Li Yi, Zhao Junzhe,
Yang Pu, Zhen Zhi, Li Xiaopeng, Qi Hong, Sun Jihai, Wei Xin and Li Tie.
REUTERS/Bobby Yip

BY/CP 

Beijing mayor and party secretary Liu Qi (C) hosts a meeting for the
capital city's delegates with deputy secretary Yu Junbo (R) and
Beijing's Chinese People's Political Consulative Conference president
Chen Guangwen at the Great Hall of the People during the 16th Chinese
Communist Party Congress in Beijing November 10, 2002. China's
Communist party elite continued secretive talks on Sunday about a new
generation of leaders to be formally elected this week when President
Jiang Zemin and other party chieftains retire. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

BY/JD 

Beijing mayor and party secretary Liu Qi hosts a meeting for Beijing
delegates at the Great Hall of the People during the 16th Chinese
Communist Party Congress in Beijing November 10, 2002. China's
Communist party elite continued secretive talks on Sunday about a new
generation of leaders to be formally elected this week when President
Jiang Zemin and other party chieftains retire. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

BY/JD 

A Chinese man sitting near the Lanjisu Cyber Cafe, where 24 people were
killed and 13 injured when a fire swept through it on Sunday morning,
reads a local newspaper showing police closing the city's Internet
cafes in Beijing June 17, 2002. The blaze drew a swift response from
government leaders - Mayor Liu Qi ordered the immediate closure of all
Internet cafes in the city and fire inspections for all buildings over
the next three months. REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/DL 

Employees check and repair equipment at a closed Internet cafe in
Beijing June 17 2002. Mayor Liu Qi ordered the immediate closure of all
Internet Cafes in the city and fire inspections for all buildings over
the next three months, after an early morning blaze on Sunday at an
illegal Internet Cafe killed 24 people and injured 13. Reuters/Str

LLW/JS 

A Chinese policeman inspects a closed Internet cafe in Beijing June 17,
2002. Mayor Liu Qi ordered the immediate closure of all Internet Cafes
in the city and fire inspections for all buildings over the next three
months, after an early morning blaze on Sunday at an illegal Internet
Cafe killed 24 people and injured 13. The board reads "Closed
temporarily due to orders handed down from above, will reopen subject
to further notice". Reuters/Str

LLW/JS 

Visiting Biejing Mayor Liu Qi (rear L) and other Chinese officials pose
with China's national soccer team members, including midfielder Li Tie
(front 2nd L), coach Bora Milutinovic (2nd row C), defender Yang Pu
(fron R) and midfielder Shao Jiayi (rear R), before a training session
in Sogwipo on South Korea's Cheju Island May 30, 2002. The Chinese
officials visited the training ground on Thursday to show their
support. China is drawn in group C with Brazil, Costa Rica and Turkey
in the first round of the World Cup Finals. REUTERS/Andrew Wong

ASW/JD 

CHINA'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH BORA MILUTINOVIC STANDS IN THE RAIN
DURING TRAINING ON CHEJU ISLAND.


China's national soccer team coach Bora Milutinovic (R) poses with
visiting Mayor of Beijing, Liu Qi, before a training session in Sogwipo
on South Korea's Cheju Island May 30, 2002. Mayor Liu Qi and other
Chinese officials visited the training ground on Thursday to show their
support. REUTERS/Andrew Wong 

A Chinese man looks at a stall selling bags in front of his home in
Beijing May 24, 2002. China's capital is emphasising greater importance
in improving the investment environment in a bid to attract more
foreign investors, said Beijing Mayor Liu Qi on May 23. The local
government would take various measures to serve foreign businesses more
efficiently and further improve living and working conditions.
REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/JS 

Beijing residents ride past the corner of a traditional alleyway, or hutong, in central Beijing May 14, 2002. The Chinese capital will speed up urban construction and economic development to improve the citizens' living standards before the city hosts the 2008 Olympic Games, according to Beijing Mayor Liu Qi. But in the process it is destroying old neighbourhoods like this one that some say give the city character. REUTERS/Guang Niu GN/CP 

Beijing residents ride past the corner of a traditional alleyway, or
hutong, in central Beijing May 14, 2002. The Chinese capital will speed
up urban construction and economic development to improve the citizens'
living standards before the city hosts the 2008 Olympic Games,
according to Beijing Mayor Liu Qi. But in the process it is destroying
old neighbourhoods like this one that some say give the city character.
REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/CP 

A Chinese cyclist is framed by Olympic rings adorning a railing,
erected years ago during Beijing's bid for the 2008 games, in an
alleyway in the capital January 30, 2002. The Olympics will bring vast
amounts of investment and boost tourism for the capital city, according
to Beijing mayor Liu Qi. Total investments for fixed assets is expected
to amount to $20 billion this year alone, he said. REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/JD 

Migrant workers take a break next to the shadow of the Olympic rings in
central Beijing January 30, 2002. The 2008 Olympics will bring vast
levels of investment and boost tourism for the capital city, according
to Beijing mayor Liu Qi. Total investments for fixed assets is expected
to amount to $20 billion this year alone, he said. REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/JD 

A Chinese butcher sleeps above a chicken cage at an outdoor market in
Beijing January 29, 2002. The per capita disposable income of Beijing
citizens for urban residents reached $1,395, a rise of 8.5 per cent
year-on-year, according to city mayor Liu Qi. The per capita disposable
income for farmers amounted to $614, an increase of 8.9 per cent.
REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/CP 

A Chinese woman walks through an old "hutong" or alleyway in central Beijing
October 30, 2001. The Chinese capital will speed up urban construction and
economic development to improve the citizens' living standards as the city
will host the 2008 Olympic Games, according to Beijing Mayor Liu Qi.
REUTERS/Guang Niu

GN/PB 

CHINA'S SPORT DIRECTOR YUAN WEIMIN GREETS INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC
COMMITTEE PRESIDENT JACQUES ROGGE IN BEIJING.


International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (L) is
greeted by Chinese State General Administration of Sport director Yuan
Weimin (R) at Capital International Airport in Beijing August 27, 2001,
while Beijing mayor Liu Qi looks on. Rogge, who arrived for a two-day
visit coinciding with the University Games, will meet with Chinese
Olympic Committee officials and view sports facilities in Beijing. 

Beijing mayor Liu Qi (C) escorts International Olympic Committee (IOC)
president Jacques Rogge (R) through Capital International Airport in
Beijing Agust 27, 2001, while Chinese Olympic Committee Secretary
General Tu Mingde (L) looks on. Rogge, who arrived for a two-day visit
coinciding with the University Games, will meet with Chinese Olympic
Committee officials and view sports facilities in Beijing.

GN/JD 

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing (C), Beijing mayor Liu Qi (R) and the Head of Chinese Olympic Committee Yuan Weimin wave to journalists after the presentation of the Candidate Cities for the 2008 Olympic Games in Moscow July 13, 2001. Beijing is one of five cities bidding for the right to host 2008 Summer Games. 

Beijing mayor Liu Qi raises his fist after the presentation of the Candidate Cities for the 2008 Olympic Games in Moscow July 13, 2001. Beijing is one of five cities bidding for the right to host 2008 Summer Games. 

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing (C), Beijing mayor Liu Qi (R) and the
Head of Chinese Olympic Committee Yuan Weimin wave to journalists after
the presentation of the Candidate Cities for the 2008 Olympic Games in
Moscow July 13, 2001. Beijing is one of five cities bidding for the
right to host 2008 Summer Games.

GD/GB 

Beijing mayor Liu Qi raises his fist after the presentation of the
Candidate Cities for the 2008 Olympic Games in Moscow July 13, 2001.
Beijing is one of five cities bidding for the right to host 2008 Summer
Games.

GD/JDP 

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing (R) and Beijing mayor Liu Qi wave to
journalists before the presentation of the Candidate Cities for the
2008 Olympic Games in Moscow July 13, 2001. Beijing is one of five
cities bidding for the right to host 2008 Summer Games.

GD 

Dutchman Hein Verbruggen (R), chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluation team, chats with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi (2nd-L) before getting into his limousine upon his arrival at Beijing's international airport February 20, 2001. Beijing is competing with Paris, Toronto, Osaka and Istanbul to host the 2008 Games. The IOC team will inspect the Chinese capital from Wednesday to Saturday.

ASW/CP 

Dutchman Hein Verbruggen (L), chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluation team, listens to the introduction by Beijing Mayor Liu Qi (R) upon his arrival at Beijing's international airport February 20, 2001. Beijing is competing with Paris, Toronto, Osaka and Istanbul to host the 2008 Games. The IOC team will inspect the Chinese capital from Wednesday to Saturday.

ASW/CP 

A Chinese woman sweeps a street behind a sculpture in Beijing February 5, 2001. The Chinese capital will spent $5 billion in the next five year to improve its environment according to the mayor of Beijing Liu Qi, who is leading the city's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Game. The focus will be on air pollution, reducing coal consumption, applying stringent auto emission rules, and increasing green space.

GN/DL 

Eckhard Pfeiffer (L), CEO and President of Compaq Computer Corporation meets with Liu Qi, the Mayor of Beijing at Beijing's City Hall March 9. Compaq is opening Internet centers throught China, and Pfeiffer is on a five-day trip to the country.

JC/DL