Beijing rolls out the propaganda to welcome Games

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing residents and visitors alike are being bombarded with propaganda posters and banners throughout the city which leave little doubt as to the government's determination to ensure the Olympics are a success.

Communist China has a long history of using such methods to get its message through to the masses, many highly colorful and using even more colorful language: "running dog" was one popular phrase trotted out on posters in the Cultural Revolution.

But the Olympic phrases are much more toned down, and generally much more positive, giving an idea of how China would like the Games to be remembered.

"Brighten the dream with passion; build the Olympic legend," reads one, written in both Chinese and English on a red and white banner strung between two trees on a quiet street in Beijing's embassy area.

Others are more strategically placed.

Inside the main entrance to Ritan Park, a designated "protest zone", potential demonstrators are reminded not to rain on China's parade and to behave themselves.

"Welcome Olympic Games with joyfulness and construct a harmonious society," it says, the last part a reference to one of President Hu Jintao's most popular catchphrases and policies.

"I participate, I contribute, I enjoy," the banner at another of the park's main entrances proclaims.

It is not just banners that are dotting Beijing's dusty streets.

Huge posters look down from buildings bearing the Beijing Games' slogan "One World, One Dream" in a variety of languages, including Korean, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, French, Italian and German.

A fair few of these enormous hoardings are being used to cover up ugly, semi-complete buildings, whose construction has been ordered suspended for the duration of the Games to cut down on pollution and help beautify the city.

More strident messages, in Chinese only, are less evident.

One poster, stuck on a wall in a fashionable neighborhood near the central business district, demanding, among other things, "do not be filthy", was removed before Friday's opening ceremony.

Still, there is one backhanded welcome being placed on the rear windows of police cars, in English, telling foreign visitors that when in China, you have to do what the Chinese do: "Welcome to the Olympics, please obey the regulations."

(Editing by Nick Macfie)