A battery of ground-to-air missiles has been set up just south, (about 300 yards) of the Olympic Sports Center Stadium, venue for soccer and modern pentathlon during the Beijing Games. It’s also within a half-mile of the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest National Stadium, reports the Charlotte Observer. According to the newspaper at least two Hongqi 7 missile launchers were visible behind a seven-foot fence, with military hardware and vehicles hidden under camouflage netting, while dozens of soldiers guarded the compound Tuesday. A notice posted on the fence read, “Military Administrative District No Admittance”.
From July to September high-emission or yellow-labelled vehicles will be banned from Beijing roads to ensure a green Olympics. Yellow labels are displayed on the windshields of about 300,000 of the more than 3.3 million vehicles in Beijing. Yellow-labelled vehicles are only permitted to enter Beijing between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. As part of the green plan, 22 laser remote sensing cars will be patrolling Beijing to check the emissions of vehicles. Feng Yuqiao, head of the motor vehicle department of the municipal environmental protection bureau said, “these inspection cars will mainly operate near the Olympic venues and training centres for athletes. They can determine the emission levels of a vehicle in about 0.7 seconds”.
In March the city banned the sale of new cars that failed to meet new emission standards equivalent to Euro IV, now the highest emission standard for cars.
Monday the Ministry of Public Security announced that large trucks will be banned from certain traffic routes in Beijing from July 1 to September 20. Trucks entering the city will have to detour on national highway 112, which circles the city, although some trucks, such as those carrying farm produce like vegetables and live pigs, will be exempt from the ban. But even those will have to apply for certificates from the municipal government to facilitate their movement in Beijing.
There are also plans for 3.3 million private car owners to abide by an odd-and-even license plate rule that allows them to drive into Beijing only on alternate days between July 20 and September 20.
Those planning to attend the Olympics should be aware of what they can and cannot take inside the venues, and should arrive well ahead of the official start of the event, said a BOCOG official Tuesday. Figures from the Beijing municipal public security bureau showed the most commonly found banned items were drinks and cigarette lighters, said Zhu Yijun, a senior figure at the Olympic security command centre. He said a list of restricted items can be found on the official Beijing Olympic website and from information boards positioned on the approaches to all venues. Other banned items include food, guns, drugs, explosives, poisonous and radioactive materials, radio equipments, and animals, except for guide dogs for the visually impaired. Large-size banners and flags are also banned, but small ones on poles no longer than 1m are allowed. Bins will be provided for the disposal of restricted items.
