IOC happy with preparations

The IOC is happy with preparations for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

IOC representatives, including president Jacques Rogge, toured sports venues for the Games, which local organisers have promised will all be operational by August when Beijing hosts the 2008 Summer Games.

"I can see the state of readiness," Rogge told reporters.

The IOC officials said they were also pleased with progress on the upgrade of the highway linking Vancouver with the mountain resort of Whistler, British Columbia, where the Alpine and several other events will be held.

The winding Sea to Sky Highway was seen as a weakness in Vancouver's bid for the 2010 Winter Games, but British Columbia agreed to a C$600 million ($615 million) upgrade - a project not included in Olympic cost estimates as officials said it would have been needed anyway.