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)