Further increased security measures announced for Olympics

Officials with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) announced on 13 August 2008 that security will be increased in and around the media village, the Main Press Center, Olympic Athletes' Village and at other major venues such as the Beijing National Stadium and the Beijing National Aquatics Center. Authorities stated that roaming patrols, including armored patrol vehicles, are a preventive measure. Additional security at the Great Wall has also been reported, including the use of X-ray machines and security doors at all entrances to the Badaling area of the Great Wall. These precautions were implemented following the death of a U.S. citizen at the Drum Tower, a popular Chinese tourist site, on 9 August. Reports of new scams have emerged, including those involving pedicabs near Tiananmen Square, have affected foreigners. Details of the scam are as follows: "Victims are approached by bike-taxi or pedicab drivers and offered a tour at a stated price. A short time after the tour starts, the driver is switched and the victim(s) are taken down back alleys and unloaded in an isolated location where several other perpetrators await, demanding many times the original price. The scam also employs a 'tail' who follows behind the pedicab on a bicycle, approaching once the extortion demand is presented. No violence has been associated with this scam. According to new details, the driver of the pedicab may try producing a laminated, typed 'Ministry of Tourism' card that has rates to different tourist sites from roughly 300-900 yuan." Meanwhile, at least eight Tibet activists were detained for protesting near an Olympic venue on 13 August 2008. Members of the activist group Students for Free Tibet hung a banner stating "Free Tibet" near the National Stadium at the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park. Six members of the same group handcuffed themselves together at the entrance gate to the park. A British journalist was also detained. These protests are illegal under Chinese law; however, there is no indication that Chinese authorities have approved any applications for legal protests in designated areas around Beijing.