CHINA: OLYMPICS - After two years of extensive training, Beijing's special rescue dogs are ready for the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Record ID: 329767

  • Title: CHINA: OLYMPICS - After two years of extensive training, Beijing's special rescue dogs are ready for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
  • Date: 11th June 2008
  • Summary: (ASIA) BEIJING, CHINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) DOGS JUMPING OVER BARRIERS VARIOUS OF DOG JUMPING OVER BARRIERS VARIOUS OF DOGS JUMPING THROUGH HOLE ON WOOD VARIOUS OF DOG WALKING ON WIRES DOG CLIMBING LADDER TRAINER VARIOUS OF DOG CLIMBING LADDER DOG RUNNING OFF STAIRS
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA18U9CIUX3OL6L6O5GP82REVFT
  • Story Text: To be prepared should disaster strike during the August Olympic Games, Beijing has spent two years training special rescue dogs who are now ready for some action.
    World athletes might still be training for the upcoming Olympics, but the special rescue dogs are ready for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
    The 17-strong dog squad, including German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and springer spaniels, are standing by to help authorities in the event disaster should strike during the international games.
    The dog's training included searching and positioning, alarm barking, field rescue, and basic physical strength and endurance exercises every day.

    "The working conditions for rescue dogs are very complicated. So we have many training programs for them, including some basic training, like teaching them to obey orders and improving their sense of smell," said captain Hu Zuofeng.
    As Beijing will embrace thousands of foreign journalists and tourists during the Games in August, the clever canines had to go on an unusual training course to become familiar with the smell of non-Asian people.

    "During the Olympic Games, we would be responsible for the rescue work if some emergencies happened. For example, we would be searching for people if someone is trapped or missing," Hu Zuofeng added.
    While China has been targeted by militant groups, such as al Qaeda, some worry that China's military has yet to fully reach the scale of the security operation, which at Athens in 2004, included the use of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) early warning aircraft.
    By using its own security forces, Beijing believes it can deliver a secured Olympics for a fraction of the $1.8 billion that Athens paid in 2004.
    Some 100,000 policemen and 600,000 volunteers will take part in the mission of maintaining security and order in the capital city. The team was set up in March 2006.
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