BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- With just 30 days until
the Olympics opens, officials gathered here on Wednesday to review preparations
for the event, with security and stadium management as priorities.
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping speaks
during a gathering to review preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games
and Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, July 9, 2008, 30 days before
the Olympics opens. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
"We will do our utmost to fulfill the tasks in the
final preparations. We will host exciting, wonderful and successful Olympics and
Paralympic Games that will satisfy the world, the athletes and the audience,"
Vice President Xi Jinping told the gathering.
With assistance from the International Olympic
Committee and the world, all preparations were going smoothly, he said,
extending appreciation to those in China and abroad for contributing to the
Games.
In the next 30 days, the country will repeatedly test
its security measures to ensure the safety of the coming torch relay in Beijing,
the events and the venues, he said.
The local governments of Beijing and its neighboring
provinces were urged to finalize their security measures and develop contingency
plans.
Residents are welcome to participate in the work, Xi
said, adding: "We will enhance international cooperation in this aspect of the
preparations."
Another major task will be to have test runs of the
venues and improve their efficiency and management, Xi said. "We will test every
detail at every post and make sure we find any flaws and correct them as quickly
as possible, even during the Games."
Xi also promised to provide good service to
journalists coming to cover the Games and good treatment for all foreign guests.
He urged relevant departments to ensure food safety,
standard air quality and good traffic conditions, as well as water, power and
gas supplies, and to avoid disturbing the daily life of the public.
"We should also do preparation work well for the
Paralympics, which means checking working plans for the Paralympic stadiums,
examining barrier-free facilities, and mobilizing the public to care about
Paralympic sports," he said.
Chinese athletes should train well and prepare for
the contests, he said, adding that strict penalties should be introduced against
doping, to ensure that all athletes show good spirit and morality.
Xi also urged enhancement of the "civilization
campaign" and etiquette education among the public. He said that local
spectators should respect players from all over the world, to present a good
image of China as a "country of etiquette."
Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of
the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also
attended the meeting.
Chinese officials gather at the Great Hall of the People to review preparations for the Beijing Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games in Beijing, capital
of China, July 9, 2008, 30 days before the Olympics
opens. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The photo taken on July 8 shows the
Olympic-exclusive bus lane in Beijing marked with the Olympic Rings. From
July 20 to Sept. 20, the leftmost lanes of some streets in Beijing will be
marked as Olympic lanes. Also, Beijing Times reports that all vehicles
entering the capital city will undergo security checks starting next week.
(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Beijing from next week
will start to deploy security staff at hundreds of checkpoints on road entries
to the city in tightened Olympic security, according to the municipal public
security bureau.
In a written announcement, the bureau said armed
police with explosive sniffer dogs and equipment such as electric metal
detectors and security scanners would be posted at road checkpoints. These were
to restrict suspects and dangerous cargo from entering the Olympic host city.
BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The public has been
recently reminded again that they are not allowed to take long umbrellas as well
as soft drinks, lighters and liquids into the Olympic stadiums during the Games.
An official of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Public
Security said some people might not pay attention to those daily items which
listed on tickets along with other illegal items, such as explosives. Full story
BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Beijing will add 34
routes to its public transport network during the Olympic Games to facilitate
increasing passenger flows, a local traffic official said on Wednesday.
In addition, 16 routes would be opened to traffic for
the Paralympics opening on Sept. 6, Zhou Zhengyu, deputy head of the Beijing
Municipal Committee of Communications, said at the 2008 Beijing International
Media Center. Full story
A passenger (2nd L) receives security
check at the Dongzhimen Subway Station in downtown Beijing, China,
June 29, 2008. Beijing subway passengers will face security check at all
stations from June 29 to Sept. 20. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Beijing subway passengers
were subjected to new security checks on Sunday at the start of a three-month
campaign to ensure a safe Olympic Games and Paralympics.
More than 3,000 inspectors at 93 metro stations began
searches for dangerous articles, including guns, ammunition, knives, explosives,
flammable and radioactive materials, and toxic chemicals, said Jia Peng a
spokesman for Beijing Subway Operation Company. Full story
BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- China's postal
service suspended mailing liquid parcels, mails containing liquid and a few
other materials from June 1 to Oct. 31.
The ban was part of the efforts to tighten security
ahead of and during the Beijing Olympic Games, said a spokesman of the State
Post Bureau. Full story
