(BEIJING, June 2) -- Immediately after the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) expressed strong support for the affected people and the Chinese government.

    IOC president Jacques Rogge stated that the Olympic movement would always be with the quake victims. President of the International Paralympic Committee Philip Craven is convinced that the people residing in the quake area are sure to win the fight against the disaster.

    The IOC firmly believes that the Chinese people are fully capable of riding over the current difficulty. In addition, with joint efforts by the public and the government, China will stage a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    Three letters of consolation from IOC president Rogge

    The IOC is deeply concerned with the affects of the Wenchuan earthquake. President Rogge sent three letters of consolation to President Hu Jintao and BOCOG President Liu Qi. Moreover, the IOC offered an initial donation of 1 million US dollars for relief efforts, and the Lausanne headquarters office flew its flag at half-mast to commemorate the victims of the disaster.

    On May 12, President Rogge sent a letter of consolation to President Hu Jintao, in which he said that as soon as he heard about the earthquake, he personally contacted BOCOG for more information and offered any help IOC could provide. On behalf of the Olympic movement, he expressed his support to the Chinese nation, his appreciation of the relief efforts, and his condolences to the victims of the earthquake.

    In his second letter, Rogge expressed sympathy with the Chinese people, and told of the IOC decision to donate one million US dollars for quake relief.

    On May 26, President Rogge sent a third letter, this time to BOCOG President Liu Qi. He spoke of the information he had gathered about how much the Chinese people have suffered from aftershocks. At such a difficult time, Rogge wrote, the IOC will stand firmly with the Chinese people. He asked BOCOG to please convey the IOC's sympathy to the Chinese people and government.

    The IOC was quite satisfied with the preparatory work China had completed in order to host a successful Olympics. The organizing body stressed that it would invariably continue to help China stage an excellent Olympic Games and that it firmly believes that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games would be a complete success.

    Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch also deeply sympathized with the affected people and expressed his sincere support to the quake victims' families.

    IPC president Craven also voiced his deep concern for the quake area, saying that he had been closely watching the latest developments in the disaster area. He said that when he saw collapsed schools and teaching buildings with students buried underneath the rubble, his heart was in pain.

    He added that it was encouraging that the Chinese government had taken drastic and prompt action to save the lives of quake victims. He noted that the relief work is progressing quickly, and as such, wanted to tell the affected people to be strong-minded enough to win the war against the disaster with courage and willpower. He emphasized that everyone in the entire IPC staff stands hand in hand with the quake victims, wishing that they could restore their health and homes as soon as possible.

    Largess from the big Olympic family

    Before the opening ceremony of the last meeting of Olympic sponsors was held in Beijing, many delegates demanded the addition of a special activity to donate relief money to the quake area.

    A Coca-Cola representative explained that shortly after the earthquake, his company assembled drinks from the Chengdu and Chongqing offices, sending them immediately to the quake area. He said that a donation activity was necessary for personal donations.

    A representative of Lenovo, a worldwide Olympic partner, said that Lenovo held an emergency meeting the night of the disaster to discuss how to best help the quake affected people reconstruct their homes. The next day, Lenovo as a company donated ten million yuan to relief efforts and Lenovo staff individually sent in personal donations one after another. More than 600 people donated blood to quake victims.

    On May 22, before the start of the 71st Congress of the International Sports Press Association (ISPA), all delegates observed a moment of silence to commemorate quake victims. President Gianni Merlo presented donations on behalf of ISPA.

    On May 27, at the work meeting of the IOC and IOC Coordination Commission for the 2008 Beijing Games, all members present observed a moment of silence to commemorate the victims of the quake. IOC Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen expressed condolences to the victims and appreciation for the prompt and efficient relief work.

    The American Olympic Committee donated 1,000 tents to the quake area to be transported to Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan..

    Recently, members of the international sports community telephoned China's State General Administration of Sport and the Chinese National Olympic Committee to convey their sympathy and support. The national Olympic committees of France, Thailand, and Hungary, among others, sent in letters of condolence.

    As disaster relief efforts progress, the large Olympic family will continue to provide strong support, according to relevant BOCOG officials.