Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission in Shanghai Stadium (Photo credit: Xinhuanet)

(BEIJING, January 29) -- "The city has been in good preparation for the Games and personally speaking, it's a very impressive to me," said Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Shanghai on Monday.

Verbruggen, accompanied by officials of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), paid his first visit to Shanghai, the co-host city of the Beijing Olympics, to inspect the city's preparatory works ahead of the Games.

During the Games, the city will host 12 football matches (men's and women's) including the bronze medal match for the men's football competition.

Verbruggen inspected the prepared Shanghai Stadium and even walked into the referee's restroom and said it was very spacious.

Local municipal officials briefed the chairman on the city's preparations on security, Games services, venue management, marketing, international coordination and volunteers.

On Tuesday, Verbruggen will continue the second leg of his China tour in Shenyang, another co-host city for the football preliminary competitions.

In addition, a FIFA (International Federation of Football Associations) delegation arrived on Monday and will start a full-scale inspection of Shanghai's preparatory works for the Games.