More than 140 representatives of foreign media were given a brief introduction to some of the security measures developed for next year's Olympics on Friday at the University of Science and Technology Gymnasium in Beijing, which will host the judo events.

Organized by the Security Coordination and Media and Communication Coordination Groups for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and Beijing Olympic Media Center, it was the largest-ever such interview held for foreign media to experience the Olympic security system close up, an official from the media center said.

At the gym, where a two-day test event finished on Friday, media workers from nearly 70 organizations filmed and photographed the security command center and listened to a briefing on overall security operations for the Games.

Mizumi Fujita from Fuji TV of Japan said: "Today's interview gave us a rough picture of Beijing's security work in one competition venue and based on this, we will arrange more interviews."

Liu Shaowu, administrative vice-president of the Beijing Olympic Security Coordination Group Office, told reporters that security operations for the Olympics have now moved into Games-time operational mode with the focus on test events and venues.

"The security operations for the Beijing Games are proceeding smoothly and we have already achieved many of our goals," he said. "Several measures have been implemented and garnered positive results following some 20 test events we have held so far."

Liu said the next step will be for security staff to start working more closely with other Games operational departments to ensure smooth operations throughout the Games.

(China Daily November 17, 2007)