RECENT events in China and far east Asia are not expected to impact too strongly on Jamaica's preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Gameswhich begins on August 8, team chef de mission Don Anderson told the Observer.

More than 40,000 people are estimated to have died so far from a magnitude 7.9 earthquake which hit the China's Sichuan province last week Monday.

Anderson, who will be chef de mission for his third Olympic Games, expressed grief on behalf of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and added that all indications are the Chinese were determined to put on a good show come August despite the disaster.

"We believe the Chinese are bent on ensuring they put on Games that are far more efficient than the western world has done so far, so we are pretty confident Beijing will put on an excellent Games," he said.

"We are watching and we hope the casualty list doesn't get to anywhere near where it's estimated to get to, but we stand by...we can't say offer whatever assistance because we don't have the capacity to do a lot from this perspective, but we would be prepared to offer whatever assistance that we can," he added.

This will be the first Olympic Games held in China and only the third ever in Asia following the 1964 event in Tokyo, Japan and 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.

Meanwhile, Anderson who has been to every Olympics since the Seoul Games, said the JOA was in the final stage of planning and met the deadline for submission of accreditation for all those who would be or likely to be going to Beijing.

"That was a big sigh of relief," he told the Observer. "Anyone not on the list now would have to make their own application at great difficulty."

He added that an estimated 80 member contingent of athletes and officials will represent the country. Compton Rodney will be the assistant chef de mission.

The official party is expected to arrive in Beijing on August 3, five days ahead of the start of the Olympic Games, on August 8.

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