Guns, drugs, explosives, and poisonous and radioactive materials will be banned from Beijing's Olympic venues, a security official said Thursday.

Animals, drinks, radio equipment, and banners and oversized flags will also be prohibited, but guide dogs and small flags on poles shorter than 1m will be allowed, Zhu Yijun, from the Beijing Olympic security command center, said at a press conference to announce the new security regulation.

Drinks are banned to remove the risk of spectators throwing containers, while radio equipment makes the no-go list as it may disturb TV broadcasts and the operation of security equipment, he said.

Banners and oversized flags are not allowed because they could block people's view of events, Zhu said, adding that the Olympic Charter already bans any form of political, religious or racial propaganda at venues.

Liu Shaowu, director of the security division of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, said the rules are in line with those introduced at previous Olympics, with some elements being specific to the Beijing Games.

He said the eight-chapter regulation, which will be published in full soon, also stipulates that venues must be equipped with at least one X-ray machine, two walk-through metal detectors, one vehicle security check channel and a system to automatically check vehicle chassis. Special security check channels will be set up for the disabled.

"All people and vehicles will have to go through security checks before entering venues," Liu said.

"If everything is okay, a person can pass through a standard security check in about five seconds. But that might be longer for media workers if they are carrying a lot of equipment."

Liu also urged spectators to leave their bags at home.

"The venues will provide all kinds of services. There's no need for people to bring too many things."

Liu said he was confident the Games will be safe.

The security operation in Beijing will directly involve about 80,000 people, including police, professional security guards and volunteers, he said.

"The number will be adjusted according to specific circumstances."

Security became a focus for media attention following a foiled attempt on March 7 to crash a passenger jet flying from Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, to Beijing.

Former Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang said late last year that although the general security situation for the Beijing Olympics is stable, the challenges of "terrorism, separatism and extremism" remain. "The Olympic Games is a big target for terrorism," Zhou said.

International anti-terrorism experts have said China should learn from other countries and proposed information exchange within the international community.

"The large number of athletes and visitors to the Beijing Games and billions of people watching TV will make the event a prime target for terrorists," Boaz Ganor, founder of the Israel-based International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, said in an interview. "Their desire to harm us and their threat against us remain real."

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