BOCOG President Liu Qi has urged organizers of the Beijing Olympic Games to make security the top priority in Olympic preparations.

As the Olympics are approaching, officials and the public must understand the importance of security and social stability for the Olympics and should take effective measures to ensure safe Olympics, Liu noted on a visit to a residential community in Beijing on Saturday.

He especially underlined the mobilization of the masses to achieve the goal of "safe Olympics." In the 5,000-household community nicknamed "Homeland of Peace" in Chaoyang District, which is close to the race course of the Olympic road bike event, Liu was updated on the status of personnel and vehicle management in the community. When he was told that no cases of security violations had been reported in the last three years because of volunteer services in the community, he praised the residents' participation in ensuring security.

Emphasizing the importance of grassroots work in security for the Olympics, Liu called for turning every community into a non-competition venue and bringing the role of the community into full play to resolve social conflicts among residents.

The Party and government need to strengthen the protection of the interests and rights of the masses and enhance their awareness as Olympic hosts with an aim of maintaining the country's good image and contributing to the success of the Olympics, Liu added.

Vice-Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee Wang Anshun and other officials took part in the visit, the Beijing Daily reported.

(BOCOG June 16, 2008)