Rule issued for Beijing Olympic spectators

Scene of the press conference

Press conference chair Wang Hui

(BEIJING, July 14) -- In compliance with IOC requirements and common practice at previous Olympic Games, BOCOG has issued a rule that spectators must observe during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The rule is similar to that of the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games, placing caution on articles accompanying spectators and spectator behavior at the Olympic venues, said Zhang Zhenliang, vice-director of the Volunteer Department of BOCOG and chief of the Spectator Call Center for the Beijing Olympics, on Monday.

The release of the rule, 25 days ahead of the Olympics, aims at maintaining an orderly, civilized and peaceful environment at competition venues, he told reporters at a press conference.

Liang Wei, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee at the press conference

Zhang Zhenliang gives a briefing

According to Zhang, the rule restricts articles and behavior that are not illegal but not in conformity with Olympic and Paralympic regulations and tend to interfere with order, venue environment and interests of athletes and other spectators; banned articles and behavior which are against current Chinese laws and regulations. Legal action may be taken against violators.

Restricted articles include hard-packed drink and food; fragile articles; musical instruments; carry-on bags, suitcases and handbags which are too big to carry to the seats; flags of countries and regions not participating either in the Beijing Olympic Games or Paralympic Games and other flags over two meters in length or over one meter in width; flag poles of over one meter in length; banners, leaflets, or posters; unauthorized professional videotaping equipments; knives, bats, long-handle umbrellas, long poles, sharp-ended stands for cameras and video cameras, and other objects that may cause harm and injury to people; animals (with the exception of guide dogs); vehicles (except for strollers and wheelchairs); unauthorized walky-talkies, loudspeakers, radios, laser devices or wireless devices that interfere with the electronic signals of the Olympic Games.

The rule deemed the following behavior as inappropriate: smoking at a non-smoking area; crossing over the guardrail; using umbrellas or standing up for a long period of time in the seating area, thus obstructing the field of vision of other spectators; and flash photography.

The rule banned weapons and equipment including guns, ammunition, crossbows, and daggers; fireworks, firecrackers and other flammable materials; corrosive chemicals and radioactive materials.