Beijing's pulse speeds up a week before the Games

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-02 10:01

"They say our taxi drivers are the face of Beijing. We should leave visitors a good first impression," said driver Jin Shunhai.

For the Olympics, the drivers have made more efforts than changing shirts. Many took part in training courses in English, knowledge about the Beijing Olympics and foreign etiquette. Some had to quit smoking, at least in cabs.

On the same day, about 25,000 security personnel started working on thousands of Beijing buses and at bus stations to remove possible safety risks during the Games.

The security personnel, comprising mechanics, management and support personnel of the Beijing Public Transport Holdings Ltd., were deployed at every bus station and on every bus.

"I only check the suspicious passengers according to my experiences because of the large flow of people," said Wang, a conductor and safety supervisor of the No. 9 bus and identified byher red armband printed with "Beijing Bus Security Check."

The city's subway system adopted its strict security policy a day earlier.

Zhang Qin was working with her colleague for the security check at the Tiananmen East Station of subway Line 1. On Friday morning, the 21-year-old followed a passenger all the way to the exit to persuade him to have his bag checked.

"Some people might not understand why the security check was sotight. We have to explain to them," she said. "I hope the Olympics will run peacefully."

As many noticed, the invitations have been sent, venues were ready and the host was experiencing an accelerated pulse with the mixture of excitement and strain.

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