Beijing Olympic Village opens
Updated
Olympic organisers say the haze which has been virtually blocking out the sun in Beijing over the past few days isn't that bad.
The city's climate, especially its smog, is expected to be one of the big talking points of the Games and will be a factor in whether the Beijing Olympics is considered a success. But its not the only problem facing organisers.
Presenter: Karen Barlow
Speakers: Wang Hui, Spokeswoman, Beijing Organising Committee For The Olympic Games; Du Shaozhong, Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau
KAREN BARLOW: The opening of the Olympic village is a source of great pride in China and the rest of the world.
National flags are starting to drape the outside of the 42 apartment blocks which will be home to 16,000 athletes and officials over the next month.
And with the hostage taking and killings of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in mind, security is intense.
The village is surrounded by guards, security checkpoints and three layers of fencing.
No filming of the village is allowed. This is what happened when an international camera crew followed the Chinese Olympic team into the athlete's area.
SECURITY GUARD: Can you get that cameraman. He should not be on the other side. He needs to be here. He is in the Olympic area.
That cameraman there should not be in there. The guy carrying a tripod. Get him to bring him back here. He is not allowed to be filming.
KAREN BARLOW: The camera crew was no threat to the athletes but it highlights how anxious the Olympic and Chinese organisers are.
A group calling itself the Turkestan Islamic Party has taken responsibility for deadly bus bombings in several Chinese cities. China has rejected the claims but authorities have claimed to have broken up many terror cells and plots over the past fortnight.
Wang Hui is a spokeswoman for the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games or BOCOG.
WANG HUI (translated): As you know, terrorist threat is one of the biggest challenge for any Olympic games and we will strengthen our security system to offer very safe environment…
KAREN BARLOW: The promise of free and unfettered internet access in China appears unfulfilled.
Western media has complained that websites such as BBC News are blocked locally and an Australian question about possible Tibet and Falun Gong protests is missing from the on-line BOCOG transcription of yesterday's press conference.
The official explanation is technical difficulties rather than censorship.
Everyone wants to clear the air, figuratively and literally.
Du Shaozhong from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has made this promise.
DU SHAOZHONG: The total emissions of the pollutants will be reduced significantly. We can guarantee the air quality in the Olympic times, of course.
KAREN BARLOW: There is a secret back-up plan if the hot, still conditions persist but Du Shaozhong says fewer Beijing cars on the road and the closing of factories should be given time to work first.
