Olympics: Beijing goes for gold medal in 'civility'

BEIJING (AFP) — Handing out spit bags outside a huge Beijing railway station, Olympics volunteer Zhang Bin did his best to help the Chinese capital prepare for next year's Games.

"Excuse me sir, if you need to expectorate, please do it in this bag and then throw it in the rubbish. Thanks for your cooperation," he said to a befuddled-looking migrant worker sprawled on the pavement.

Minutes later, the small paper envelope ended up as litter on the ground, another no-no that Zhang and other red-sashed foot soldiers in an Olympics "civility" drive are working to discourage.

Zhang took it in his stride.

"It is my honour to help the city. Beijing must portray a better image to the world next year," he said.

That goal has spawned several ambitious campaigns to bring this ancient capital's social etiquette into the modern era before the eyes of ...