Security

Something must have happened or tipped off the Chinese because security around the MPC (Main Press Centre) and the Northland Media Village (my home for the month) has been increased. Why, you might ask? Well it could be a number of factors but the increased presence has been noticeable. So far they have added armed guards (normal), baggage screening (normal), and a giant tank outside the MPC (kind-of-odd.) Yeah, so they (China?) decided a giant tank would sit in front of the MPC and that would protect all us journalists. So far, so good, because as of 7:56 p.m. on August 13, 2008 all is good. The tank is more like a photo op than a military vehicle that can ward off the bad guys.
The security in general has been a lot less than I thought it would be. I was expecting to be searched coming into the MPC everyday but even that has been a breeze compared to airport security in the United States. We can keep our shoes on, don’t have to take out our laptops and if something tips off the x-ray machine they just wand us quickly and let us go. Sometimes they have us take a sip of our beverage and sometimes they don’t. I have been asked about my Pepto-Bismol (no need for details here) and luckily they don’t make me test that everyday. I hope we can get through the games with security the way it is now even if I have to wake up to a tank outside the building everyday.