Beijing has begun work on laws and regulations to guarantee the smooth operation of the 2008 Olympics
One of the major tasks for Beijing as host of the 2008 Olympic Games is to establish regulations and laws to govern the preparations for and conduct of the Games. Thus, on April 10 the Olympic Legislation Coordinating Team (OLCT) came into existence and assigned the first group of tasks involving such areas as communications, public security, health and environmental protection.
The main responsibilities of the OLCT are to present clear guidelines for rules and regulations to all relevant agencies, to collect and analyze suggestions for such rules, to coordinate departmental activities so that rules are promulgated in a timely manner, and to direct agencies to develop measures to deal with all possible problems that might occur during the Games.
According to the OLCT, when large-scale events were held in the past, the government issued executive orders to manage all social aspects. However, during the 2008 Games, city management and law-enforcement officials must follow relevant laws, letting athletes, officials and the public know what behavior is and is not permissible. In addition, law-enforcement officials must understand the limits of their powers and have the ability to take timely and efficient action to cope with different types of problems.
In addition, said Ji Lin, Vice Mayor of Beijing, the Olympic legislation must establish a system of accountability. If a department does not make suggestions relating to legislation prior to the Olympic Games and encounters a problem during the Games, the responsible officials in the department must be punished.
At present, the first group of Olympic legislation requirements, including a “holiday” for Beijing residents, visa requirements and the operation of motor vehicles, is attracting notice. Officials said that the idea of the holiday came from the experience of Athens during the 2004 Olympic Games and is aimed at reducing traffic pressure in the city by allowing residents to leave the city to travel during the Games.
During the 2004 Olympics, nearly half of the 4 million residents of Athens departed, significantly reducing traffic problems.
With regard to visas, Clive Granger, winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economics, pointed out that there still are some practical difficulties for foreigners to get visas. He suggested that allowing foreigners to obtain visas through the mail, by phone or over the Internet would make the process more efficient and economical for both the Chinese Government and visitors.
He said China can learn from the experiences of Sydney and Los Angeles to resolve the issue so that more foreigners can come to China to see the Games.
According to the Office of the Beijing 2008 Environmental Development Head-quarters, the study of these legislation requirements will be completed within six months.
Olympic Legislation Requirements
Rules related to free transportation services on railways, highways and city buses
Regulations on traffic control and special traffic routes
Regulations involving dogs, such as seeing-eye dogs, in public places
Regulations on wheelchair transport
Olympic volunteers’ recruitment and management
A ban on gambling on Olympic proceedings and results
Quarantine regulations to prevent diseases from entering China
City public facilities’ use and management
Regulations limiting or halting the operation of heavily polluting enterprises in and around Beijing
Collection and transport of household and restaurant garbage and waste building materials
Amendment of food hygiene standards to facilitate Olympic catering services
Regulations to bar smoking in Olympic venues
Regulations banning advertising stickers
Regulations curbing street peddling and arbitrary price rises
Management of tourist service and catering establishments
Management of foreign media taking photos of “sensitive” sites and cultural relics
Control over motor vehicles in Beijing, including those entering the city from other areas
Entrance permit to tourists from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with China during the Games
Management of overseas visitors without Olympic tickets
Regulations related to vacation during the Olympic Games