David Kellett, vice president of International Sailing Federation (ISAF), praised the facilities and organization in the Qingdao International Regatta?in Qingdao, East China?on Tuesday.

 

Kellett was once here in 1999 when the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center was still a shipyard.

 

"The sailing center is excellent. It is a fantastic effort by the people of Qingdao to deliver this venue to the extent that it is now," said the vice president.

 

"It's on time, they promised us for this test event that we would have these facilities and they are magnificent. I think the extra area for having the breakwater as a viewing platform for the public to walk out on, and there were many public out there."

 

"I think that was a wonderful innovation. We are very happy with the sailing committee in Qingdao to achieve that. I think that would be a great thing that all the people in Qingdao can walk out there and watch the sailors and learn from them."

 

On the performance of the sailors, he said, "all the athletes are very good and they had fantastic performance. We are getting good results, of course, if there is enough wind."

 

Only one race was held on Tuesday due to lack of wind, which might affect the Olympic Regatta in 2008.

 

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Vice president of ISAF David Kellett shows his satisfaction over the work of 2006 Qingdao International Regatta.

 

However, Kellett didn't think so. "We have days like that. It happens everywhere. Sometimes good days and sometimes bad, but we have many days (in the Olympics)."

 

As a test event for the 2008 Games, organization and collaboration between ISAF and relevant Chinese departments are great concerns.

 

"We are working together as a team. That's the idea of the test event. We have two test events before the Olympic Games so that we can practice and work with each other," said Kellett.

 

"We have a few minor problems but they've been sorted out. We work together as a team and everything is running as smooth as it can. We've been very involved in the planning of the organization. Virtually everything here has been approved by ISAF."

 

The second test event will take place next year. "Many years in makings with the Beijing Organizing Committee and the Qingdao Sailing Committee to ensure that all the facilities are exactly as you see. We have the right number of people and boats. We can keep the education process going to train more officials." Kellett said.

 

In order to attract more spectators and media, medal race has been adopted and was for the first time tested in an Olympic test event.

 

"This is our innovation, which will make it clear for the media to learn who the gold medalist is. We always have some innovation."

 

Kellett also spoke highly of Chinese sailors with their competitiveness.

 

"China has very good sailors like in RS:X M as you had three inside the top ten after two races," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2006)