On the Beijing Beat: Tank mounts guard on press army

(GETTY IMAGES)

The new presence of an armoured personnel carrier next to the security check-in gate outside the Main Press Centre has not gone unremarked.

Five days earlier, after all, this gate was the scene of a media feeding frenzy involving at least 10 camera crews and a gathering number of intrigued reporters which eventually turned out to be have been prompted by a suggestion that someone may have been getting a bit shirty about waiting in the queue. And so the caravan moved on.

Yesterday this novel piece of military hardware – installed, according to official sources, as part of a general tightening of security even though there was no special danger – provided an ideal backdrop for any number of concerned pieces direct-to-camera. It also proved a useful base for radio reporters to ask bemused fellow media members if they felt safe in Beijing. One photographer considered the question for a moment, looking high over the MPC as if for confirmation, before replying : "Yeah. I think so."

The APC also fitted nicely into the traditions of fire engines at village fetes by offering countless photo opportunities and allowing interested parties to peer in through its windows.

Inside the MPC, however, the suggestion that they had a small tank outside their door proved to be a major source of puzzlement to the staff on the desks. "I think you must ask the traffic department," suggested one worker, while another ventured: "Maybe there is a rehearsal for something." But for what?

The Mummy's return...

Liu Bo, husband of China's newly established 52kg judo champion Xian Dongmei, is pictured in the local press watching her victory on television, surrounded by reporters, with the couple's two-year-old daughter Liu Jiahui in his arms. The little girl points excitedly at the screen, clearly recognising mummy. Which has to be seen as a good sign, given the fact that, having been persuaded out of retirement by the Guangdong sports administration, mummy has spent over a year from home preparing for the Games. No wonder Liu Bo has tears in his eyes. "It's not easy for her trying to juggle being a mother and an Olympian," he said, adding that he will give her roses when she returns home.

Pants cause image problem...

Fuwa, the five stylised creatures who are the mascots for the Beijing Games, have got into a twist over their knickers. The little friends, who all represent different cultural elements from Chinese history, have caused some offence because their images appear on female underwear now on sale in Guangdong market. The Xinhua news agency reports that many people are refusing to buy the panties because they are an insult to the "blessed image of the Fuwa". That will not cause any distress to Han Melin, who designed the Fuwa images three years ago and has since disowned them.

Mike Rowbottom

Word on the street

Name: Alex Blackie

Age: 25

Birthplace: Harrow. Has lived in Beijing since 2004

Occupation: English teacher and part-time promoter/DJ

How much attention have you been paying to the Games?

After seeing the beach volleyball yesterday I am desperate for any tickets. I haven't booked in advance so I'm having trouble getting them. They all seem to be going for about four times face value.

Which events are you paying most attention to?

I'm only interested in football and athletics. I saw China at the beach volleyball yesterday and the atmosphere was good. After the Chinese beat some 'robust' Belgian girls, the atmosphere was terrible – most of the crowd just left.

What do the Olympic Games mean to you?

This is a chance to witness history! When it has been on TV in the past I have only watched it with passing interest. In Beijing it all spills out onto the streets so you really feel a part of it.

What are the best and worst thing about the Olympic Games in Beijing?

The worst thing is all the foreigners complaining. A lot of the expats here want the Olympic Games to be over and for China to mess up. They moan about all the clubs being full of foreigners. Beijing normally is all about the weekend, now there is stuff going on every day, that's probably the best thing.

Would London be able to host a Games as well as Beijing?

I think it will be better organised, for example the ticket system will be a lot more professional. But the opening ceremony would never be as good. Could London organise 3,000 performers as well as Beijing has?

We don't have the threat of violence hanging over their heads, so I doubt it.

Jeremy Webb

Alternative guide

A play on "Beijing Welcomes You", a popular song and ubiquitous phrase here, "Chinese Football Welcomes You" sums up the disappointment over China's poor performance in the football so far. The song was written by an unknown 'netizen' and was passed around the web before being printed in The Beijing News on Tuesday. We have attempted a translation.

"Our goal is open to you, feel free to score many or few, after battle we'll have no face, you'll fall in love with this place.

"Whether you're from far or near, don't be shy and never fear, if it doesn't cross the goal line, we'll make it up to you next time.

"China has CFA President Xie Yalong, the legends have not got it wrong, if you don't understand football don't fret, a football official's career is still yours to get."

A note at the bottom reads: "This does not include women's football."

Jeremy Webb

Today at the Games

03.15 Boxing: David Price, the British team captain, is fancied to do well in the super-heavyweight category, but he has a big task in his opening bout. The 6ft 8in fighter from Liverpool, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games, takes on Russia's Islam Timuriev, the European champion, who is world bronze medalist and world No 1.

07.00 Sailing: Ben Ainslie, leader in the Finn class, competes in his second race of the day (the first at 06.00). Britain's Yngling crew, who also lead their field, will have their races at the same times.

07.50 Rowing: Three British crews row in the semi-finals. Alan Campbell races in the singles sculls at 09.00, Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham in the men's double sculls at 09.40 and Tom James, Steve Williams, Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge will then compete in the men's four at 09.50.

09.00 Archery: Britain's Naomi Folkard will hope to have reached the quarter-finals of the women's individual event via the round of 16, which started at 03.30. The semi-finals and medal matches will follow after that.

What you may have missed overnight...

03.11 Swimming Britain's Caitline McClatchey swam in the women's 200m freestyle final.

03.18 Swimming Michael Phelps was chasing his 10th gold in the 200m butterfly final

03.30 Artistic gymnastics Women's team final

04.16 Swimming Phelps was in action again, in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final

04.30 Cycling Britain's Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke were in the women's individual time trial. The men's started two hours later

Coming up later today...

7.30 Diving China will be favourites in the men's synchronised 3m springboard. Nick Robinson-Baker and Ben Swain will represent Britain

10.00 and 12.45 Football Final men's group matches, including Argentina against Serbia

14.05 Swimming Some combination of Rebecca Adlington, Francesca Halsall, Jo Jackson, Mel Marshall and McClatchey launch their challenge in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay

If you want to stay up late tonight...

04.00 Gymnastics Men's individual all-round final

04.29 Swimming Women's 4x200m freestyle relay final, with Britain possibly chasing glory

05.00 Judo Britain's Michelle Rogers (u-78kg) and Peter Cousins (u-100kg) compete. The finals start at 11.00

06.45 Boxing British welterweight Billy Joe Saunders fights Carlos Banteaux Suarez for a place in the quarter-finals.

Weather watch

Another hot and humid day with little wind. Temperatures will reach 30C.