One month before the 2008 Olympics kick off, Beijing adds final touches and
gears up to welcome overseas visitors. Meanwhile, the Olympic media centre
opens in the Chinese capital and organisers reassure journalists' freedom and
access.

BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 8, 2008) REUTERS -
With just a month to go before the Beijing Olympics kick off,
authorities are going all out to ensure everything is perfect for the world's
largest sports event.
    Hundreds of workers have been cleaning floors and planting thousands of
plants in the city's main areas, while others touched up traffic barriers to
ensure Olympic traffic will run smoothly.
    But even their hard work could not rid the city of the thick smog
covering buildings, just 31 days before the Games kick off on August 8. 
    In the lead up to the big day, organisers are cleaning up and finishing
construction around the city to welcome thousands of visitors, despite
pollution, traffic jams and the recent disasters in the country. 
    Earlier this year, southern China was hit by freak freezing weather,
which cut power to millions. In March, there were riots in Tibet and
anti-Chinese protests on the international leg of the Olympic torch relay, and
most recently was the massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan that left
more than 80,000 people dead or missing.
    Security during the games has also been a key issue. There have been
warnings from Interpol that terrorists may target the Games. The Chinese
government claims to have foiled a plot by ethnic Uighurs from China's restive
far western region of Xinjiang to attack the Olympics.
    A raft of security measures has been put in place to try to prevent
more serious crimes.
    At Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing, security is tight with
groups of policemen on guard and constantly patrolling the area. 
    Thousands of tourists visit the world's biggest square and the
Forbidden City during the busy summer season.
    Xu Lei, a tourist from Hebei province who came to Beijing to feel the
Olympics fever, said he thought the city was ready for the Games.
    "The Beijing Olympic Games are well prepared. Even though our
country has experienced a lot of disasters this year, the confidence of the
people towards the Games is still very strong. Our country has the ability to
host a good event for the Games," said Xu, standing next to his
girlfriend who wore a T-shirt with a "Come on China" slogan.
    But hundreds of cranes still dot Beijing's skyline and work continues
to finish two new subway lines which are due to be completed next week after
some delays. 
    The city's efforts have impressed foreign tourists, but pollution
remains a problem for many. 
    "I heard they are supposed to close the factories during the
Olympics, which is a great thing, because it is very polluted at the moment,
and you don't even get to see the sun. It is very polluted, that could be a
shame. But apart from that, I think they are really ready," said Pierre
Coutin, a tourist from France.
    Authorities have put restrictions on the number of cars driving on
roads and factory emissions during the Games. The restrictions will run for
two months from July 20. Residents say the restrictions will certainly make a
difference, but at a price to the people of the city.
    Beijing expects to play host to between 450,000 and 500,000 overseas
visitors during the August Olympics, only marginally up from the 420,000 who
came in the same period last year.
    The host city is also welcoming a large number of journalists and other
media workers from around the world. 
    Some 25,000 foreign journalists are expected to cover the Beijing
Games. 
    Catering for the large press corps, The Main Press Centre (MPC) and the
International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) in the Olympic green were officially
opened on Tuesday (July 8) with a launch ceremony. 
    The 62,000 square metre MPC will host some 5,600 accredited media
people prior to and during the August Games. It is located to the west of the
Olympic Green, next to the newly-built Bird's Nest stadium and Watercube
aquatics centre and in addition to office and working space includes
restaurants, postal services, travel agents, a bank, hairdresser and even
massage services. 
    The chairman of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC)
Co-ordination Commission, Hein Verbruggen, told reporters at the ceremony that
preparations had been finished and it was time to fulfil the pledges the IOC
and the host city had made. 
    "Now, it is of course operation time. And that means that we will
have to deliver to our stakeholders, including the media, obviously, what was
pledged," said Verbruggen. 
    China has come under huge pressure from foreign media to allow them
free reporting from the host city. The country has consistently promised media
the same freedom as they have enjoyed at previous Games, in line with the
requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
    However, media institutions, including various broadcasters, have
complained of tight restrictions on reporting and broadcasting live from the
city's famous landmarks, and said they have not been informed whether their
applications for licenses to transmit live broadcasts have been successful.

    Speaking at a news conference in the newly-opened MPC, Sun Weijia, head
of the media operations for the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic
Games (BOCOG) ensured foreign journalists the city would be open for them.

    "Broadcasters can report from every corner of Beijing, even
including live cover, they can also report from Tiananmen Square. Here, I
would like to elaborate, according to the regulations issued by the government
for the 2008 Olympic Games the foreign journalists have the freedom to report
prior to and during the Games time," Sun said. 
    According to Chinese media, the Summer Games will likely run up a bill
of over 20 billion dollars (USD), making them the most expensive to date. 
   Beijing wants to use the Olympics to showcase half a century of
development, but while the Chinese often say that the country has world-class
"hardware" - bridges and buildings, it lacks "software" -
services and efficiency. 
    Beijing authorities have launched a string of initiatives to improve
the manners of the 14 million inhabitants of the Chinese capital, including a
series of etiquette booklets and the deployment of "civility
supervisors" on the streets.
    The Games take place between August 8-24.