"GO China" banners will not be allowed into Olympic Games venues in Beijing. Nor will soft drink containers, musical instruments or whistles which all join a list of prohibited items.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games has decided that banners like "Go China" are against the principles of fairness that are part of the Olympics.

The BOCOG has also warned spectators not to bring to the Games venues leaflets publicizing commercial activities, religion, politics, the military, human rights or environmental or animal welfare.

Huang Keying, a BOCOG spectator division official, said the rules which were issued yesterday, 25 days ahead of the Games, included 22 restrictions and four prohibitions and were completely in line with the Olympic Charter.

"Every spectator is subject to these rules which are intended to maintain security and order at the venues," Huang said.

Li Yong, a BOCOG volunteer department staff, said people with banners would be stopped by the security checks at the entrances of the venues. Spectators should cheer for both Chinese and foreign athletes, Li said.

Last month, 800,000 Chinese volunteers began practising cheer routines for the Games.

They have practised a uniform four-stage cheer with easy-to-learn slogans. The volunteers will stand when national anthems are played and will help remove rubbish at the end of events.

The slang commonly used by Beijing natives, a unique local verbal abuse, is definitely banned.

The rules forbid banners and flags larger than two meters by one meter. Also banned are the flags of non-participating countries, flash photography, drunkenness, nudity, gambling, sit-ins, demonstrations, guns, ammunition, crossbows, daggers and goods thought to be flammable, caustic or radioactive.