The security work for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will undergo
thorough test through a series of trial events this year, said a
national legislator at the ongoing annual session of the National People's
Congress (NPC).
NPC deputy Qiang Wei, also security chief of the Games, said
Beijing will host more than 26 sports events in the second half
this year with mock security operations taking place. Police and
security personnel will be stationed at more than 100 Olympic
venues in preparation for the Games.
"The trial events will provide a chance for us thoroughly
examine our Olympic security work," said Qiang, adding that the
Olympic security system and security facilities in Olympic venues
will be completed at the end of this year.
Beijing established a security team for the 2008 Olympic Games
in December 2004, marking the commencement of its security
preparations.
As a major move of preparations, Beijing set up the security
headquarters and intelligence center in June last year.
Beijing also signed an agreement in January with neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province to undertake joint operations
against terrorist and criminal activities during the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games.
An emergency plan has been drawn out to ensure all events go on
safely during the Olympic Games, said Qiang.
About 90,000 policemen are expected to be called up for the
Games and the budget for security work is expected to reach US$300
million, accounting for one fifth of the total costs, according to
the organizing committee of the Games.
It was reported the costs of the Athens Games in 2004 included a
bill of some US$1.3 billion for security.
(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2007)