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China has created a set of rules for foreigners planning to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer; the rules include “no insulting banners” and “no sleeping outdoors,� as The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports.
If you expected to China to open its arms to welcome people for the Olympics, think again. China wants polite mannered guests, so it’s tightened up screening for visitors. There are new regulations, nine pages of them on 57 topics posted on the official website for the Olympics. They warn that holding tickets is not an official visa and not all areas of China are open for visitors and all gatherings must have a permit or they could face prosecution, including signs in public that disturb public order. All this does seem to go against a pledge made by the Olympic President who said freedom of expression is a right and absolute.