Don't bring in weapons or drugs. Don't light fireworks at sports venues. Don't attack referees. Don't sleep outdoors. And don't even think about protesting with a political statement. The Beijing organizers of this summer's Olympics published a list of rules this week by which foreign visitors to the Games must abide. Authorities will also bar entry to those who are mentally ill, who have sexually transmitted diseases or who are suspected of planning to seek out prostitutes. It also said that travelers with tickets to Olympic events were not guaranteed a visa, apparently giving notice that known political activists will kept out.
Organizers expect about 500,000 visitors from foreign countries during the Games, but said in its new rulebook that China still has many areas that are off-limits to visitors. "Not all of China is currently open to foreigners, and if foreigners do not have permission they should not go into areas not opened it," Reuters quoted the organizing committee statement as saying.
China is trying hard to ensure the Games will unfold smoothly, and that includes preventing any disruption, whether organized terrorism or single-person soapbox protests. The new rules were posted to the organizing committee's website, but curiously, only in the Chinese version.
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