Beijing ready to strike up the (big) band

OLYMPICS:Green Movement: Irish duo stretch their legs by Great Wall

AN ORCHESTRA of 2,008 musicians belted out a medley of pre-Olympic classics on Tiananmen Square yesterday, the first foreign orchestra to perform on Beijing's central plaza, but groups seeking to protest during the Games have been told to give plenty of notice before they will be permitted to demonstrate.

The opening ceremony is on Friday and excitement is building in the Chinese capital at an Olympic celebration that is supposed to mark China's emergence on the world stage.

The celebratory mood was underlined by the youth orchestra, made up of musicians from schools and universities in China, the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Guam. They did an eclectic selection ranging from classical pieces to Gloria Estefan on the famous square where tanks rolled in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists in 1989.

China's critics are keen to use the Olympics to make sure that issues such as democracy, human rights, Tibetan independence and China's policy on Darfur remain hot topics 19 years after the June 4th crackdown.

After days of negative publicity for failing to meet promises to be more open for the Games, in particular its failure to meet promises to the International Olympic Committee on internet freedom, Beijing is trying to balance the need to give some leeway to its critics with its fear that it could be embarrassed by protest groups out to make a point.

Trying to answer accusations it is repressing dissent, China said last week it would allow officially approved demonstrations to be held at three parks in the capital. None are anywhere near the main Olympic sites, and yesterday security officials said locals or foreigners wanting to use them must apply five days ahead of time.

"Assembling to march and protest is a citizen's right. But it must be stressed that when exercising this right, citizens must respect and not harm others' freedoms and rights and must not harm national, social and collective interests," said Liu Shaowu, security chief of the Beijing organisers.

China has 100,000 officers on hand to deal with terrorism or anti-government protests during the games. Security around the iconic square has been tightened, with checkpoints at each underground entrance checking bags for "explosives, guns, knives, drugs and pornographic materials".

Beijing seems to be making progress on the city's air-pollution problem. For the past three days, the skies were sunny and clear following weeks of smog, a sign that anti-pollution efforts, such as taking half of Beijing's 3.3 million cars off the road and closing steel factories and coal-fired power plants, might be working.

The clear skies have given visitors a chance to get a proper look at some of the fantastic venues the organisers have built, including the Bird's Nest stadium and the Water Cube aquatic stadium nearby. There were slight hazy elements yesterday but organisers hope the environment stays clear.

Despite pressure over human rights and pollution, the normal business of the Games is continuing to gather steam. Saturday night saw a dress rehearsal for Friday's opening ceremony, which included fireworks but was shrouded in secrecy - although South Korean TV leaked footage of the show, to China's irritation.

Premier Wen Jiabao, the popular leader who became known as "Grandpa Wen" for his relief work after the Sichuan earthquake, shot hoops during a visit to the men's basketball team, which includes China's most popular sportsman, the 7ft 6in Yao Ming.

"No matter whether you win or lose, above all do it with spirit. Win honour for the motherland," Wen said.

For the record, it took him five shots to make a basket.

China has ambitions of outstripping the US in the medals table.