China Gives "Cheering Lecture" For Summer Olympics Audience

December 3, 2007 5:41 p.m. EST

Beijing, China (AHN) - For those who want to watch the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Chinese officials have a new "cheering coach." Citizens in China's capital are now practicing how to act and react during the summer games.

Some 200 factory workers from Beijing's eastern towns were gathered for a practice cheer session at the national stadium on Monday in the latest lecture on the subject. Factory manager Lu Xiaoping told AFP: "Because of this program, I also think that China's spectators will behave better."

Government authorities in China feel it's necessary to educate the audience to avoid disruptions similar to what occurred in the 2004 Asian Cup. Chinese fans reacted negatively and rioted after their team lost to Japan in a final game. The government wants the Chinese audience to be at their best behavior when the summer Olympics begin in May.

AFP said that veteran sports writers like Zhai Yue conduct lectures to possible spectators that in individual sports like tennis, there would be times that they need to be quiet and the appropriate time to cheer.

"We win, we cheer; you win, we boo - that's not right," said Zhai Yue. He said that the Chinese audience are having a crash course on cheering to avoid very emotional reactions especially in basketball and soccer matches.

Reports said authorities have to teach the locals not to chant obscenities and curse teams competing against Chinese athletes.