 Short Takes
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-25 07:29 Beijing Hospitals to stay open Beijing hospitals will be open seven days a week during the Olympics to serve residents and visitors. The city's health department told hospitals to make sure emergency wards are open round the clock. Except for a few top-level hospitals that are open seven days a week, most hospitals usually close on the weekends or operate for only half a day. Leave cancelled Beijing municipal authorities have cancelled leave for volunteer and professional firefighters serving the central Tian'anmen Square area from Aug 6 till Sept 20. The "level I fire prevention and control plan", the highest level of alert, will ensure emergency cover during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Jiang Shengli, head of the fire control authority in charge of the area, said yesterday. It will be the first time the city has implemented the level I plan, Jiang said. Weather hotline opens Beijing's weather authority launched a hotline yesterday to offer comprehensive meteorological information about the Olympics to the public. By calling 68710008, people can consult weather conditions for Beijing and Olympic co-host cities for free. In Beijing an additional service covering weather for sports venues, traveling and traffic is also being offered. The hotline will run 14 hours a day from 7 am during the Olympics and Paralympics and 12 hours on normal days until Sept 20, Ding Deping, an officer with Beijing meteorological bureau, said. Manifesto campaign A nationwide campaign to promote the spirit and knowledge of "Le Manifeste Olympique" (Olympic Manifesto) was officially launched yesterday with the founding of the National Olympic Manifesto Communications Committee. Liu Binjie, chief of the General Administration of Press and Publications was elected as director of the committee. The Chinese version of the manifesto, published by the People's Publishing House, will be presented to the Switzerland-based Olympic Museum for permanent display. Shenyang Dealing with religion The co-host Olympic city of Shenyang has been studying various religions in a bid to understand foreigners and avoid insulting their feelings during the Games. More than 5,000 police officers have learned the origins, forms, taboos and classic works of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism since the municipal public security bureau launched the campaign in March. They were taught ways to solve emergency situations concerning religious affairs. Qingdao Boating restrictions Olympic co-host city Qingdao will restrict swimming and boating activities in the sea near the sailing competition venue to ensure security for the Games. From 8 am on Aug 7 till 6 pm on Aug 24, unauthorized sailing of tourist boats and yachts will be banned in coastal waters from the east side of the Tuandao Island to the Shilaoren tourist area, the city's public security bureau said. Washington Rice to head team The White House announced on Wednesday that the US will send a presidential delegation to the closing ceremony of the Olympics, led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The delegation will include Elaine Chao, secretary of labor, and Michael Leavitt, secretary of health and human services. Clark Randt, Jr, US ambassador to China, will also attend the closing ceremony. China Daily - Xinhua (China Daily 07/25/2008 page6) |
