7月19日，北京奥组委分别与天津、上海、沈阳、秦皇岛等四个北京2008奥运会京外足球赛区城市政府签署了关系原则协议。这标志着奥运筹办工作城市之间的合作全面展开。中共中央政治局委员、北京市委书记、北京奥组委主席刘淇出席签字仪式并致辞。
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games （BOCOG） signed principle agreements on Tuesday with four cities on hosting soccer competition of the 2008 Games.
According to the agreement, matches of the group stage of the Olympic soccer tournament will be contested in Tianjin, Shanghai, Qinhuangdao and Shenyang.
“Soccer is one of the most eye-catching sports in the Olympic program. I hope that all the cities will work together to contribute to the success of the 2008 Olympics,” said BOCOG's President Liu Qi.
Qinhuangdao's soccer stadium is already in place, the first among all Olympic venues to be completed, while Tianjin's venue is well under construction. Shanghai and Shenyang will soon start renovating their stadiums.
There are 28 sports in the program for the 2008 Olympics. Most of the events will be contested in the Chinese capital, but Hong Kong will host equestrian events and Qingdao is the venue for sailing events.
