Hein Verbruggen, 67 years old, was recently awarded the China Friendship Award, among a total of 12. It is the highest award China gives to foreign nationals who have made “outstanding contributions to the nation’s economic and social progress”. The next U.S. ambassador in Beijing is said to also have received the Award (not confirmed yet).
Gilbert received the same award on 29 September 2005 from then Vice Premier Ms. Wu Yi.
Verbruggen, from Holland, had led the IOC’s Oversight Panel for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was thus deeply involved in the Beijing mega-show.
Gilbert too got the award for his long-term involvement in the preparation for the Olympics.
What Gilbert does not share however was the way to analyze the preparations: Verbruggen was rather sugar-coating everything to please Beijing. Gilbert has a reputation of being “rather out-spoken” (an understatement).
Verbruggen has since then left the IOC to seek “a quieter life”. Well, dear Hein, there we also share something. I’m happy it’s all over and feel it is still …. a bit early to make a final assessment of the mega-show.