This article was contributed by Jennifer Conrad.
It also appears in the July issue of Beijing's Urbane,
a magazine on design, architecture and urban development.
While athletes from around the globe make use of years of intense training at August's Olympics, Beijing's law enforcement will be hoping their own preparations will pay off too. According to a report by the U.S. trade group Security Industry Association, China spent approximately USD 6.2 billion on security between 2004 and 2007. With all its new toys and rigorously trained personnel, Beijing's security teams should be well prepared to beat records at their own set of Olympic events.
Hide and Go Seek
RFID chips are embedded in tickets prevent reuse and counterfeits, but they can also be used to track a ticket-holder anywhere in a venue or to tell how many people are in an area. Tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies also contain digital versions of the holders' photos and passport data.
Record: USD 720, the estimated price of opening and closing ceremony tickets.
Scooter Racing
Self-balancing, battery-powered, nerd-hip Segway scooters have been purchased for use by Olympics grounds staff and anti-terror forces to ensure a quick and agile (if slightly awkward) response to security incidents.
Record: About 100 Segways
Capture the Flag
Volunteers, identifiable by their red armbands, will help visitors – and keep an eye out for for illicit banners emblazoned with taboo messages. Reportedly, volunteers will come prepared with large stickers to keep naughty T-shirts under wraps.
Record: Almost 60,000 volunteers
Synchronized Surveillance
Closed-circuit TV feeds from apartment complexes, public spaces and transportation hubs will all be networked with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, as part of the so-called Grand Beijing Safeguard Sphere.
Record: USD 28.5 million spent on video systems
Aerobatics
Beijing police have acquired the city's first surveillance helicopters in anticipation of the Games – one of many security upgrades that will hover over the city after the torch departs.
Record: About 30 choppers
Hoop Jumping
Though officials say they won't necessarily realize it, spectators
will be required to jump through a series of security hoops to enter each venue: the "soft ring" (protected by video surveillance); the "hard ring" (security checkpoints and bomb-detectors); and the "security zone" (access-control systems and patrols).
Record: 3 rings
Dog Sniffing
A pack of new explosive-sniffing dogs will join the 44 already nosing around Beijing.
Record: 160 new dogs
Missile Lobbing
Two camouflaged Hongqi 7 surface-to-air missile launchers have been temporarily installed in the Asian Games Village, just south of the Olympic Green. Only broadcasters' helicopters are permitted in the skies above the stadiums, but any wayward aircraft could result in fireworks bigger than those of the opening ceremony.
Record: 15 kilometers, the missile's maximum striking distance
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