CHINA:WITH THE atmosphere in Beijing still upbeat following Friday's triumphant opening, the city's weather also played along when thunderstorms did much to clear the smog from the skies above the capital.
Temperatures were relatively cool, and although the skies were overcast, you could see the Perfumed Hills to the west of the city, a sign that it was probably genuine fog, not smog.
Organisers hope better weather should make it easier for athletes in coming weeks, particularly as some appeared to suffer in the heat of the stadium during the opening ceremony.
Traffic restrictions are also making getting around the city easier and the broad consensus is that much of the logistics planning is working out well. Security officials have vowed to step up security after a fatal knife attack on Todd Bachman, father-in-law of the US men's volleyball team coach. His wife was wounded in the attack and the assailant killed himself by jumping off the Drum Tower, the tourist site where the attack took place.
The attack was carried out by Tang Yongming (47), a homeless, jobless, twice-divorced man, who acted "out of despair over personal failures", Xinhua reported.
"We are going to strengthen the security at scenic spots . . . to make sure no sharp weapons can be brought into the area," Beijing Olympic spokesman Wang Wei told a news conference.
Beijing is already on high alert as a growing number of attacks in the restive western Chinese province of Xinjiang have prompted fears of a strike in Beijing.
The government has coincided a clampdown on smoking with these Olympics and one zealous Beijing anti-smoker has said he will give 10 free tickets to top Olympic events, including the men's soccer and volleyball, and the women's basketball, to people who agree to sign a contract to give up cigarettes.
Xiong Wei queued for a long time to get the tickets and would be happy to watch the events with his family but he told the Beijing News he would rather give them away to people who quit the fags and help boost the "No Smoking Olympics".
Those who give up have to sign a document and Mr Xiong will then monitor them by e-mail or by telephone, he said.
In another example of Olympic philanthropy, Chinese white-goods manufacturer Haier, which is one of the biggest fridge makers in the world and an official Olympic sponsor, pledged to build one new primary school in a deprived rural area for every gold medal won by a Chinese athlete in Beijing.
The incentive, run by Project Hope, kicked in once weightlifter Chen Xiexia won her gold medal at the weekend. Haier has already contributed nearly €15 million in schools and materials for the project, and by the end of last year, Haier had built 77 primary schools in 24 provinces, allowing 40,000 students to return to school.
China is hoping to win more medals than any other country at these Games - some of the more patriotic forecasters expect 50 golds, and even the less bullish expect around 44, which would mean a lot of new schools.