On the Scene in Beijing -- Protest Announcements Due, Bush Meets Baseball's Schiller

(ATR) BOCOG's security director promised to say how many people have applied for protest permits during the Games and U.S. President George Bush meets baseball president Harvey Schiller. More inside.

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Protest Permits Announcement Due

BOCOG’s security director promises to announce the number of applications for protest permits at Thursday’s press briefing.

The number of applications approved and those rejected will be announced.

There are three officially designated protest zones including Fengtai World Park, a theme park about one hour's drive from the Games' main venues.

Beijing police and security officials have acted swiftly to quell any signs of protest in and around the city during the first five days of the Games.

Human Rights Watch reports Wednesday that a Chinese activist who applied for permission to protest against corruption during the Olympic Games has been taken away by security agents.

Ji Sizun traveled to the Olympic city from the southern province of Fujian and planned to demonstrate in one of three protest zones. He apparently wanted to call for "greater participation of Chinese citizens in the political processes, and denounce rampant official corruption and abuses of power", HRW said.

The group reports that he applied for a permit Aug. 8 but vanished three days later when he went back to find out about his application.

According to reports, police said no one had been arrested or taken away.

Also Wednesday, police arrested a British journalist after he covered a Free Tibet protest close to the city's main Olympic zone. Activists from Students for a Free Tibet mounted a protest outside Ethnic Minorities Park. Police reportedly forcibly removed the protesters after detaining the journalist. The reporter was later released.

Bush Meets Baseball’s Schiller

U.S. President George W. Bush met with the International Baseball Federation president Harvey Schiller on a visit to Wukesong Baseball Complex in Beijing for the Team USA vs. Team China exhibition game.

Bush, who was wrapping up a four-day visit to Beijing, said his highlight of the event was "getting his picture taken with the teams."

Meanwhile, his father George H. W. Bush said Monday that politics should be kept out of the Olympics and that he is not sympathetic to those who try to embarrass China. He was visiting Beijing as the honorary chef de mission of the U.S. Olympic team.

The baseball competition kicks off Wednesday at Wukesong Baseball Field, with Cuba hoping to continue its dominance of the sport. Cuba has won three gold medals and one silver from four Olympics.

Chicago 2016 Hosts World Press

Chicago 2016 turns on the charm for the world’s media, hosting a party for the press this week at USA House in Beijing.

Journalists from Europe, Asia and the Americas were on hand, probably about 75 reporters. USA House is located in a well-known Beijing restaurant, taken over completely as a hospitality headquarters for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Mayor Richard Daley, bid chair Patrick Ryan, and USOC international vice president Bob Ctvrtlik made brief speeches; a new video presenting the city was debuted to the crowd.

Five Up for Phelps

"Arguably the greatest ever Olympic athlete," said the announcer at the Water Cube Wednesday after U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps racked up his fourth gold of the Games and edged closer to Mark Spitz’s record seven golds at a Games. He later notched a fifth in the 4x200m freestyle relay. If Phelps digs deep to eclipse his hero’s medal haul in Beijing, maybe then discussions can begin over whether the Baltimore Bullet is the greatest ever Olympian. Until then, the jury is out. Phelps stands to earn a $1 million bonus from swimsuit maker Speedo.

Tank Removed from MPC

The armored personnel carrier parked outside the Main Press Center on Tuesday has been removed following the furor kicked up by media over supposed security increases and the reasons for them.

The tank became a photo opportunity for media on a bad PR day for BOCOG. Neither the IOC nor BOCOG were able to explain the tank’s presence there at Tuesday’s daily press briefing, or to provide sufficient information about additional security checks in operation at the media villages.

Beijing by the Numbers

BOCOG says 250,000 visitors attended the Olympic Green Aug. 12.

Where’s Jacques?

IOC President Jacques Rogge takes in judo at Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium and weightlifting at Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium Wednesday.

Weather Report

Beijing is enjoying warm weather Wednesday, although overcast skies threaten showers in the evening. Temperatures hover around 31C (88F). The city’s weather experts forecast Grade II air quality, meaning it is “quite good”. The high humidity, however, is another story.

Written by Mark Bisson in Beijing.