(BEIJING, December 5) -- The organizational work of the 2007 Qingdao International Regatta has been highly commended by the IOC and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the event's organizers told the press on Tuesday.

The regatta, held in August, underwent the most comprehensive tests in line with the Olympic standards. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) said the event had been upgraded remarkably from the level of the 2006 regatta in terms of its competition operations. It passed tests in many challenging areas such as the victory ceremony and competition organization, the IOC added.

The ISAF praised the sailing facilities, media operations, opening and closing ceremonies, victory ceremony, competition management, and venue operations and spoke highly of the organizers' courage in facing the challenges and their readiness to help others.

In their assessments, the organizing committee of the Good Luck Beijing sport events and the Chinese survey company entrusted by the committee, Horizon Group, also rated the operation of the sailing event as smooth, its logistics powerful, and its venue operation and command system efficient. They stressed the rehearsal of the competitions, technology, and other core components in conformity with the Olympic standards.

The assessment report suggested that the competition services need to be standardized, with more professionalism in the volunteer services and media operations. Also, there should be more efficient integration of the work procedure, and more attention must be given to observing international practices.

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Committee is taking stock of its work to improve its preparatory work for a successful Olympic Sailing event in 2008.