QINGDAO, Shandong - Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sent a message to the sailing-theme forum which kicked off here Sunday in east China's Qingdao, rating it as a "commendable initiative".

    The forum, with its full title of Olympic Sailing City Mayors and International Sailing Summit Forum, will focus on sailing culture and the relationship between city development and hosting Olympic sailing events.

    "The IOC supports such a forum which will be the perfect platform to share and exchange information and knowledge, understanding the significance of being, or becoming an Olympic city, how to maximize the status, how to ensure its longevity and how to promote the development of sailing for all," Rogge stated in his message.

    "I would like to congratulate all the people involved, and in particular the Qingdao Municipal Government and its Mayor, Xia Geng, for such a commendable initiative," he added.

    The forum attracted about 150 mayors and experts on sailing from 21 countries and regions.

    Qingdao, a coast city of east China's Shandong province, was the venue of the Beijing Olympics sailing events in 2008.