OFFICIALS working on preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics took time out of their busy schedules last week to visit Cambourne. A delegation of 22 Chinese Beijing Municipal Government officials visited the headquarters of South Cambridgeshire Distric

OFFICIALS working on preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics took time out of their busy schedules last week to visit Cambourne.

A delegation of 22 Chinese Beijing Municipal Government officials visited the headquarters of South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) to find out how a district council operates. While on the visit they sat in on a planning committee and met councillors to compare notes on planning for growth and waste recycling.

Some of the officials are studying at Cambridge's Bell International College.

SCDC councillor Jim Stewart said: "I was delighted to welcome our visitors who were fascinated to watch the democratic process at work. They met our environmental health officers to discuss the council's success in composting.