Beijing announced to commence actual combat training for the security of 2008 Beijing Olympics on April 27. After the start-up ceremony, the "Xuelang (snow wolf) Assault Team" from the Special Operation Team of Beijing Armed Police Force made their debut in public. They undertook a joint actual-battle exercise with Beijing special police.

According to reports, established in December 2002, the "Xuelang Assault Team" had never revealed their true colors before the public. The team will especially carry out anti-riot, anti-attack, and anti-explosion missions. "After purgatory-style anti-terrorist training, every soldier and the team as a whole have obtained practical combat skills, and they are fully able to fulfill their tasks," said the chief of the team.

According to Zhao Yuan, an official with Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau's political training office, the Bureau will undertake multi-training programs including VIP safeguarding, grand movement security, anti-terrorist and explosion prevention, anti-transnational crimes, and information collection. In the light of the conventional practices and characteristics of transnational crimes, Beijing will stress training against nuclear and biochemical attacks.

It is reported that the training will draw on the security experiences of former Olympics. China will explore an Olympic security mechanism and working mode in accordance with international practices and adapting to domestic situation.

(Chinanews.cn April 30, 2006)