The 2006 International Regatta will feature 466 sailors and 302 boats from 41 countries and regions.

It is seen as an important international Olympic-class regatta that will help Qingdao prepare for the Beijing 2008 Games, when 11 sailing events from nine categories will be held in the co-host city, with 11 gold medals up for grabs.

Organizers said the sailing courses were planned as closely as possible to resemble the 2008 Olympic race courses and all activities will be carried out following the Olympic system.

It takes place at Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Covering 45 hectares on Fushan Bay, the venue is said to be an environmentally-friendly leisure area for city residents and visitors as well as a competition venue.

"We have built this marina for all the Qingdao citizens, rather than only the Olympic Games," said Li Fengli, deputy secretary-general of the Sailing Committee (Qingdao) of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

"We have organized all kinds of activities to help spread awareness of sailing among all the residents in the city."

In addition, the athletes centre and media centre and other land facilities as well as water works, such as the floating dock, have all been completed in time for the regatta.

"In order to ensure the smooth running of the event, we set up three operation centres under the organizing committee. They are city operation centre, games operation centre and the security centre," said Li.

"The Qingdao municipal government has worked out a complete city operational plan and a rehearsal had been done by the end of July.

"We have tested all the plans and have improved them to make the event perfect."

According to local media reports, security measures have been strengthened in and around key areas.

There will be more than 1,300 trained volunteers serving the event. Some of them will be deployed in the competition area to provide services to athletes, officials and media. The others will work in more than 100 posts in transport hubs, tourist spots and other public areas across the city

Infrastructure boost

"To be able to prepare for the 2008 Olympic sailing events is an important opportunity for our city," said Zang Aimin, vice-mayor of Qingdao. "We see it as an opportunity to accelerate the development of the city and the improvement of the civility of our people."

According to official statistics, the city has experienced a growth in its gross domestic product and faster infrastructure construction since winning the bid in 2001 for Olympic sailing events.

"As analyzed and predicted by social and economic experts, Olympic sailing events will make Qingdao richer, cleaner, more open and more civilized," predicted Zang.

"With the driving force of the Olympics, Qingdao will become more dynamic, more competitive with a better environment for living."

In addition, Qingdao is making every effort to build up its image as a "Sailing City," Zang added.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic emblem and the sailing boat logo have appeared in almost every corner of the city. Thousands of tickets have already been sold or booked by local residents to watch events.

According to Qingdao's Olympic plan, its preparation for the Games is made up of four phases preparations, development, test and improvement, and actual operation.

With the staging of the test event, the city has entered the test and improvement phase when examinations, improvements, tests and trial operations will be carried out at all construction projects and services. During the four-month operation phase from August 2008, the sailing events of both the 2008 Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games will be held.

In Olympic sailing competition, there are nine Olympic sailing classes in which sailors can compete. Each country can only send one boat to a class.