CHINA: OLYMPIC GAMES - Beijing police launch their security training programme in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games

Record ID: 331879

  • Title: CHINA: OLYMPIC GAMES - Beijing police launch their security training programme in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games
  • Date: 28th April 2006
  • Summary: WIDE: AUDITORIUM INTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Police,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAET5TNXKLJ5P69TIL4UFHL1451
  • Story Text: Beijing police showed what visitors, friendly or otherwise, can expect at the 2008 Olympic Games when they launched their security training programme on Thursday (April 27).
    As well as learning foreign languages and improving their helpful side, the police showed what they could do in the event of violent incidents such as hostage taking.
    Officers at Thursday's ceremony went through their paces in a full-scale mock-up of a city square, complete with bank, hotel, subway station and fast food restaurant.
    During the exercise, two motorcycle-riding, gun-toting terrorists were rapidly subdued after taking a fruit seller hostage.
    All of the Chinese capital's 40,000 officers and any more recruited before the Olympics will take part in the special training programme. Most of them will also learn a foreign language or phrases to help them deal with an anticipated two million visitors.
    Qiang Wei (pron: chee-ahng way), chief of the Security Coordinating Bureau for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, told journalists: "2006 is a crucial year for the preparation of the Beijing Olympic Games. It is also an important transition year for moving towards completing unfinished priorities: the organising system; and operation of the Olympic Games. The Olympic operation training programem starts this year, but for this training there will be great challenges and a lot of hard work ahead."
    China has not been targetted by terror groups, but the authorities were embarrassed by riots after the national soccer team lost to Japan at 2004 Asian Cup.
    The security forces are also on alert for domestic sources of unrest that could disrupt the Games, from civil protests to activists seeking independence for Tibet.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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