As the Beijing Olympic Games are only five months away, China's top political sessions held in the national capital this spring have been inevitably stamped with the marks of the Games.
"Olympics" and the so-called "Two Sessions" -- the annual full meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) -- have replaced the "Snow Disaster" as catch phrases of the Chinese media over the past two weeks.
Newspapers, TV programs and netizens have speculated over how Premier Wen Jiabao will address the Olympics issue in his annual government work report to the annual parliament session.
Foreign media organizations have also showed great interest. According to the press center for the NPC and CPPCC sessions, 877 foreign reporters registered to cover the sessions.
"Many have made interview requests on Olympics-related issues, such as Beijing's air quality and food safety," said Zhang Changchun, an official with the press center. "We plan to invite relevant officials to answer their questions at a special press conference."
In the meantime, how to ensure the success of the Olympic Games is also a topic of common interest among the CPPCC members and NPC deputies.
As the competition venues are almost in place, the sessions' attendees have shown concern about improving public manners and behavior to polish the national image.
It is predicted that more than 20,000 registered journalists from all over the world will come to cover the sports event in Beijing and the city will see another 500,000 foreign tourists during the Games, said Deng Yaping, a veteran woman table tennis player who is also a CPPCC member.
"How to ensure they are well-received in China is a challenge for both the Games organizers and all countrymen," said Deng, who is vice director of the Olympic Village of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
The BOCOG used the CPPCC and NPC sessions as a rehearsal venue for its volunteer services by sending 80,000 registered Olympic volunteers to help maintain traffic order and patrol the streets.
Du Wenqin, one of the volunteers, was assigned to help keep order at a subway station near Tian'anmen Square. The 56-year-old retired teacher finished training, including a 40-hour oral English class, before she started to work on Saturday.
She helped at least four foreign tourists to figure out the route to the bird's nest-shaped National Olympic Stadium or to Wangfujing, a major shopping area in Beijing.
"I had been asking myself what should I do if I couldn't understand the foreigners when they came for help, but so far, I'm satisfied with my performance and I believe I can do better during the Olympic Games," said Du.
Diana Baker, a tourist from England, showed support to the Beijing Olympic Games after touring the city alone for two days.
The 23-year-old college student gave up her plan to go to the "Bird's nest" on foot from Tian'anmen Square after a traffic police officer told her that even the shortest route would take her at least two hours.
"I can see the government and the people are working hard for the Games, and I believe Beijing is able to hold a successful Olympic Games," said Baker.
Jiang Jufeng, an NPC deputy from the southwestern Sichuan Province, said that social stability and strong economic support were two necessities for a successful Olympic Games.
"China is absolutely qualified with those conditions concerned, " said Jiang. "The real test for the government is how to take the opportunity to promote further development of the country."
(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2008)