Banners, such as those saying "Go China," will not be allowed in Olympic venues. While such posters have been frequently seen during the Olympic
torch global relay, the tendentious banners violate the fairness
principle of an Olympic event, according to Olympic venue rules.
The rules, promulgated on Monday, 25
days ahead of the Games, by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the
Olympic Games (BOCOG), advise spectators not to bring into the venues
support banners and leaflets of commercial publicity, religion,
politics, military, human rights and environmental and animal
protection, among others.
Huang Keying, a BOCOG spectator
division official, said the rules, including 22 restrictions and four
prohibitions, were completely in line with the Olympic Charter. "Each
spectator is subject to the rules aimed at maintaining security and
order of the venue."
Li Yong, a BOCOG volunteer department
staff, told Xinhua people with banners would be stopped at the entrance
security check. Spectators should cheer for both Chinese and foreign
athletes, Li said.
Earlier last month, 800,000 Chinese
volunteers began practicing routines to cheer on athletes -- both
Chinese and foreign -- at the Games.
They were trained to do a four-step
cheer in unified sportswear, with easy-to-learn slogans. They are
required to stand up when national anthems are played and to remove
trash at the end of an event.
The f-words used by Beijing natives, a unique local style of verbal abuse, were definitely banned among spectators.
The rules also ban banners and flags
larger than two meters by one metre, flags of non-participating
members, photo-shooting with a flash, drunkenness, nudity and gambling,
sit-ins, demonstrations, as well as soft drink containers, musical
instruments, including whistles, long umbrellas, cigarette lighters,
cameras and radios at venues.
Lip gloss, fountain pens and sunscreen in small quantity are allowed.
Animals, except guide dogs, were also not allowed in the venues.
The organizer reminded spectators to
dress normally and not deliberately display commercial logos on clothes
or be part of a group of people wearing identical patterned clothes.
Zhang Zhenliang, director of the
Games' inquiry center, said spectator rules were always one of the most
difficult parts of the Games preparation as they must ensure an
orderly, happy and harmonious environment.
The rules book have been delivered to
spectators along with tickets. Overseas spectators could see the rules
on-line or dial "12308."
Zhang said the inquiry center operated
daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in several languages. "Many overseas
spectators inquired about whether they could bring babies into the
opening or closing ceremony venue." It was not advised.
Li Bingshuang, a Beijing office
worker, had tickets for the beach volleyball and rhythmic gymnastics
events. She carefully read the rules book attached to the tickets.
"I know little about specific rules of
each Games, but I'm sure I should clap after athletes completed their
routines, but not in the middle of it," she said.
Zhang said the restrictions and
prohibitions were roughly the same as those of the Athens and Sydney
Games. The "spectator version" of the rules book features a simple and
vivid language.
Huang said the Beijing Olympic venue
rules were different than those of previous Games as the national
situation and local habits were different, adding Athens had banned
large quantity of coins being taken into venues. Beijing, however, did
not have such a restriction.
"Beijing locals like to use a parasol
to block out the sunshine. But we have to remind people not to open
umbrellas in the seating areas so as not to block others' view," she
said, adding collapsible umbrellas were acceptable for being taken into
venues.
"We have specially trained staff to communicate with spectators and point out their misconduct."
Li said whistles and cigarette
lighters were most likely to be ignored by spectators and common at
venues. "They seem natural for a game, but whistles could disturb
athletes and lighters are classified as dangerous goods."
On Monday, BOCOG also launched a "Good
Habit for a Good Games" campaign by distributing "Smiling Wristbands"
in five Olympic colors to the public to promote "civilized watching,
smile commitment."
Meanwhile, an large-scale etiquette
campaign was launched outside the Olympic venues. More than 4.3 million
local families were given "etiquette manuals" and 870,000 taxi drivers,
government workers, restaurant waiters and bus conductors attended such
courses.