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Merkel watches Olympic events over TV: spokesman
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-08-23 10:39
BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has so far watched various events of Beijing Olympics over television, German government spokesman Thomas Steg said on Friday.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel chats with children during a visit at a kindergarden in the western city of Hiddenhausen near Bielefeld August 22, 2008. The visit at the kindergarden is part of the Chancellors summer journey through Germany. [Agencies]
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Speaking to a press confernce, Steg said the Olympiad always boasts of special charm and fascination, adding that "it is the biggest sporting spectacle of the world."
According to the spokesman, Merkel herself had watched various events of the Beijing Games over television whenever she got the chances, noting that Merkel was particularly pleased with the two gold medals won by German canoeists.
The German government hoped that the Olympic Games could become an "impetus" for the modernization process in China, said Steg.
German has sent a big delegation to the Beijing Olympiad which consist of some 440 athletes, the biggest one from Western Europe.
By Friday, the German delegation has won 14 golds, 9 silvers and 13 bronzes, ranking the fifth at the gold medal standings.
With just two days to go for the closing of the Games, Steg said the German government was "satisfied" with the result although there were "surprises" and "disappointments."
