"We can again report that the commission has seen that BOCOG's operations are absolutely right on track," Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC coordination commission, told reporters as the commission wrapped its last inspection tour of the Chinese capital.

    "We believe that the coming August will be able to give a superb organization to the athletes.

    "All the organizations have been progressing according to the plan," he added.

    Verbruggen said the IOC coordination commission had examined Beijing's preparatory work in 44 areas and received satisfactory feedbacks.

    "We were very satisfied with the assurance we received in a number of areas ... media services, internet access and live broadcast, where some concerns exist," he said.

    "There is every reason to believe that we will see here a gold-medal performance in August, also superb organization of the Olympic Games."

    Verbruggen reiterated that the IOC was a sporting organization and not a political one, and would not get involved in political issues.

    "The games have been drawn into issues that do not necessarily have a link with the operations of the games. It's the truth. We are all aware that the international community is discussing these topics," he said.

    Verbruggen also rejected the conclusions by an Amnesty International report this week that awarding the Olympic Games to China had made human rights worse.

    "To go that far to say the Games contributed to a worsening situation in human rights, I would call blatantly untrue," said Verbruggen.

    "It is something very difficult to prove for them but we can easily prove that bringing the Games here has let to improvements."

    Wang Wei, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee (BOCOG), echoed these remarks.

    "The Chinese people now enjoy great freedom of speech, and people can comment on and criticize the government's work," he said. "The Olympic Games is an opportunity for china to further open up and develop... and also will contribute to the improvement of human rights courses."

    Commenting on threats by some EU politicians recently of boycotting the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, Verbruggen said that decision to boycott the opening ceremony or the Olympics should be made by athletes and not by politicians.

    "I have very little admiration for politicians that come here to sign big business contracts and three or four months later say ' perhaps I won't come to the opening ceremony'," he said.

    "The athletes have more than enough information to make up their own minds. It's not up to some politicians making cheap use of the sport at the same time as signing big business contracts."