The Cuban government newspaper Granma said on Monday that the speed of China's preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics had "stunned the world", repeating comments made in the 15th Olympic Committees' General Assembly.

At the Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, the world's Olympic committees agreed that Beijing would be more than ready by the end of 2007, but expressed some worry that due to the early finish, the stadiums would rack up higher than expected maintainence bills.

"This is the first time in history that there have been worries because the stadiums could be ready too soon instead of uncertainty about them not being ready on time," Granma said.

Beijing is building or renovating 27 stadiums for the Games. Work will begin on other nine sites by the end of 2006.