BOCOG's Liu Qi receives Olympic Order in Gold

Liu Qi, the President of the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee (BOCOG), received the Olympic Order in Gold on Monday from the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) President Jacques Rogge in recognition of all the hard work that went into staging the hugely successful Beijing Olympic Games.

"This was China's last gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games but perhaps the most important one because after seven years of intense preparations, BOCOG and China has offered to the world 16 days of exciting Olympic sports competitions, supported by smooth operations - a success which has permitted the athletes to achieve their best in optimal conditions," CRI writes, citing an IOC news release.

In addition, fourteen BOGOC senior members were awarded the Olympic Order in Silver, and 90 others members received the Olympic rings.

"My colleagues and I are extremely honored to be awarded the Olympic Order. It's not only a honor for the entire team of BOCOG, but also a recognition of the hard work that the Chinese people have done to host a successful games," CRI quotes Liu as saying.

Everyone from officials to athletes have praised the Beijing Games, which Rogge called "exceptional" in his closing speech.