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BEIJING - Security has lifted a notch in Beijing, with armed guards at the Olympic Village, extra airport-style screening at entrances and the unusual sight of a light armoured vehicle parked outside the Main Press Centre.
Visible security was already tight in Beijing - as it is at all Olympics - from tall metal mesh fences and military guards ringing venues to the scan-and-search stations at entries.
China has 100,000 security personnel and more than 10 times as many volunteers acting as eyes and ears for any trouble. Soldiers line the outskirts of the Beijing Olympic Green, and other venues, even the media villages.
For all that, the American father-in-law of New Zealander Hugh McCutcheon was murdered on Saturday when a lone assailant stabbed him and his wife at a tourist site.
Armed soldiers put in a first appearance at the Olympic Village yesterday, New Zealand team chef de mission Dave Currie said.
He thought it could have been because several dignitaries and heads of state were visiting, as the guns had gone this morning.
"We've noticed nothing different in the way things have been operating at all," he said.
The military presence was still low-key compared to Athens in 2004, he said.
There, the Olympic Village was guarded by a row of Exocet missiles.
At the massive North Star Media Village, journalists going in were security-screened for the first time - previously the screening was only for those going out.
An official sign at the entrance advised of the increased security.
Security has been tighter than at previous Games, with those carrying water bottles having to drink some of the liquid before being permitted access.
Beijing's preoccupation with security was spoiling the Games atmosphere, Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said.
There was a noticeable lack of atmosphere around Olympic venues, he told reporters.
"I think you have got to put a lot of that down to the preoccupation with security," he said.
"They haven't been able to manage the balance between security and creating that atmosphere I suppose."
Coates expressed disappointment in small crowds at some venues, and has urged Australian athletes to wear their national colours outside Olympic areas as an extra security precaution.
He did not know why an armoured vehicle was outside the press centre, but he recalled similar military vehicles being used outside Olympic accommodation at the Montreal, Moscow, Seoul and Barcelona Games.
Last week, New Zealand soccer team coach Stu Jacobs said his side had found the security stifling.
His side had security escorts to and from trainings and games, and when some players wanted to go shopping, guards were allocated to each of them.
- NZPA
