People planning to attend Olympic events should make themselves aware of what they can and cannot take inside venues, and should arrive well ahead of official start times, a BOCOG official said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Zhu Yijun, a senior figure at the Olympic security command center, said despite the fact that a list of restricted items is printed on all event tickets, many people attending test events were found to be carrying banned items.

He was referring to a series of 42 test events held since last year, involving 56 venues.

According to figures from the Beijing municipal public security bureau, the most commonly found items were drinks and cigarette lighters, Zhu said.

A list of restricted items can be found on the official website of Olympic organizing committee and also on information boards positioned on the approaches to all venues, he said.

Also, despite doors opening two hours ahead of each event, Zhu said many spectators arrived just 10 minutes before the start, which created delays at security inspection points.

"The security division of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad has made it clear there will not be any deposit services provided for spectators," he said.

Bins will be provided, however, for the disposal of restricted items, he said.

As well as drinks and lighters, the list includes food, guns, drugs, explosives, poisonous and radioactive materials, radio equipment, and animals, except guide dogs for the blind.

Large-size banners and flags are banned, but small ones on poles no longer than 1 m are allowed.

Wang Zuguang, a 26-year-old from Beijing, said he had learned his lesson in February, when he went to see the "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 16th FINA Diving World Cup at the National Aquatics Center.

"We took some snacks with us, but were told we couldn't take food into the venue," he told China Daily.

"Thankfully, we were hungry, so we ate them all before we went in. But it was a bit embarrassing, so I won't take any food with me next time," he said.

Zhu, who is also deputy head of the special police contingent of the Beijing municipal public security bureau, said police will undergo an intensified training program over the coming weeks to fine tune their crowd management and security checking skills.

According to earlier reports, about 80,000 people, including police, security guards and volunteers will be involved in the security operation.

(China Daily  June 25, 2008)