Jun 6, 2008, 15:07 GMT
Beijing - Not even the cheering of athletes will be spontaneous at the Beijing Olympics.
Chinese news reports on Friday that the organizing committee (BOCOG) for the August 8-24 Games has recruited 448 volunteers for 30 'cheering teams' to teach the spectators the civilised form of support.
According to a strict choreography it all starts with two hand claps accompanied by the chant Aoyun (Olympia). Spectators are then told to hold their fists in front of their body, to raise their thumbs and to shout Jia you (Let's go).
This scheme is repeated slightly altered, two handclaps and the slogan Zhongguo (China) followed by raised fists and another round of Jia you.
The reports said that the choreography will also be used with different country names or athletes names. The art of cheering will be spread by television and on posters ahead of the Games and is also to be trained by the almost one million school children and students expected to attend the Olympics.
Your Talkback on this Story