As part of an effort to ensure a safe Beijing Olympics in 2008 over 10,000 of the city's police will receive first aid training, according to the municipal public security authorities.

 

On Wednesday the first group of around 1,000 police started their two-day training program at Beijing Police College, said Zheng Weiping, college vice president.

 

Zheng explained that police would learn basic first aid skills including artificial respiration, treatment of minor injuries, diseases and also self defense and emergency procedures.

 

He said the second group of 1,000 traffic police in the suburban districts and counties of Changping, Tongzhou, Shunyi and Yanqing would be trained at the end of this month.

 

Police authorities said on Wednesday they'd start allocating police to more then 100 venues for the Olympics next August. This is a year ahead of the Games. They said the police will carry out exercises as Beijing plays host to more than 20 sporting events in the second half of 2007.

 

About 90,000 policemen are expected to assist protect the 2008 Olympics and the security budget is expected to reach US$300 million. This accounts for one fifth of the total costs, according to the organizing committee.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2006)