The member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau said those guarding the sporting events followed the instructions of Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, namely in that "a safe Olympiad is the largest symbol of the success of the Beijing Olympic Games, as well as the most important image of the nation."

    Zhou made the remark on Thursday at a national conference to award police officers for their deeds during the two sporting events.

    These Olympic guards had "adopted unusual measures, stood special tests, and made unusual achievements, to complete their duties with high standards, realize the goal of a safe Olympiad, and hand over a qualified result to the Party and the people, " said Zhou, also the CPC Central Political and Legislative Affairs Committee secretary.

    He urged all public security departments and police to make the victory of a safe Beijing Olympics as a new starting point and implement new measures in strengthening and improving their work.

    Make great efforts to display the Beijing Olympic spirit and make it a valuable treasure and heritage, he said.

    Zhou pledged to step up the development of the country's police force, display its traditions of being loyal to the Party, the nation, the people and the law.

    The meeting was attended by Liu Qi, a Politburo member, Beijing's Party chief, and Beijing Olympic Organization Committee chairman, and Meng Jianzhu, a state councilor and public security minister.