IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT, LIKE NOT GROSSING OUT THE VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Now that the Winter Olympic Games have concluded in Torino, Italy, eyes will begin to turn toward Bejing, China, which will host the 2008 Summer Games.

Of course, every host city hopes to put it's "best foot forward", knowing that the eyes of the world will be upon it for more than two weeks. It takes a great deal of work to present your municipality as one of the world's elite places ready, willing, and able to host the world's biggest events as well as tourists and, hopefully, businesses.

Bejing is looking at all angles toward that presentation. And that includes teaching your population to change some of it's "bad habits". Like spitting and blowing one's nose --- without benefit of tissue --- onto the sidewalk.

According to this story from CNN, the local government is intensifying enforcement of laws against such activity, requiring law enforcement officers to "step up the frequency of fines". Fines for public spitting are about $5 US.

The crackdown is part of efforts to raise "ethical and cultural" standards in advance of the 2008 Summer Games, a major prestige project for the communist government.
Zhang said officials will launch an advertising campaign on radio, television, the Internet and mobile phones to "teach people the right way to spit."

"For example, you have to spit into a tissue or a bag, then place it in a dustbin to complete the process," she said.

Those without a bag handy needn't worry. Zhang said her office has organized a small army of volunteers who are already hitting Beijing's streets, handing out small "spitting bags" and wearing bright orange uniforms with the Chinese character "tan" -- "mucus" -- printed in yellow on the back.

Any idea on where the "volunteers" will come from?