Beijing to highten security ring during Olumpics

Beijing, Sep 8: With China determined to make the 2008 Beijing Olympics the ''greatest show on earth,'' a tight security ring will be thrown around the games venues in the wake of global terrorist threat.

''We will take every security measure to make the games safe.

Security of athletes and foreign delegates alike is a very big challenge for us and we shall face it effectively,'' Chinese Olympic Association (COA) official Xu Da told UNI.

For visitors, steps will be taken to make them feel an ''environment of relaxation and harmony.'' He says considerable attention will also be paid to the safety of spectators and crowds, which the games are expected to attract.

Besides about 1.5 million overseas visitors, the local turnout is expected to be threefold.

For India, which will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games and is preparing for the 2014 Asiad and 2016 Olympics, the Beijing games will provide an opportunity to obtain a firsthand assessment of the organisation of the Olympics and utilise the experience for conducting international events in Delhi. ''We shall feel happy to share our experience,'' Mr Da says.

''India possesses requisite resources to stage international events. The need is how best you can channelise them. India is the birthplace of the Asiad and it successfully conducted Asian Games in 1952 and 1982, testifying its potential to organise mega sports events,'' says Mr Da.

For the Beijing Olympics, India will have to slug it out in a gloriously competitive arena keeping in view of the vigorous long-drawn training of sportspersons in different countries, particularly the US and host China.

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The games will have far-reaching impact on the host city and its people from improving infrastructure, the environment and Beijing's international image to upgrading industry and, to cap it, improving quality of life. This is offsetting old austere looks to make way for stunning skyscrapers, matching those in developed places such as New York City. Pockets of buzzing activity are visible all over as stadiums and new housing, nightclubs, bars and art galleries spring up.

Scattered cranes and other machinery are seen at immense construction sites where towers and buildings will eventually rise under a gray palette of sky.

These days, the prevailing image of Beijing seems to be rush-hour gridlock on wide boulevards clogged with jet-black luxury cars on streets that were once thronged with bicycles. Expressways, subway lines and modern buildings are being added to the new sports venues.

With the world's eyes turning to Beijing, the Chinese are toiling to take the opportunity to show visitors the best side of Chinese life and culture. ''For the entire society, the games will accelerate reform and opening up,'' say COA officials.

''For China, Beijing 2008 represents the icing on the cake of international recognition and acceptance.'' For smooth flow of traffic during the games, steps include more lanes and enlargement of roads. Authorities will encourage locals to either use public transport rather than their own transport or go on holidays outside Beijing during the games, to ease congestion.

UNI *