The Olympic athletes aren't the only ones who have gone through a gruelling training schedule in the run up to the Games in Beijing this summer. In order to prepare the mountains of food required for the festival of sport, inspectors and manufacturers from the suburbs of Beijing have been working round the clock to ensure the quality and safety of the food to be served up to participants and visitors is of the highest standard.

Highest food standard
Inspectors have been posted at the factories that have been chosen as the official suppliers of products such as rice, flour, bottled-water, meat, dairy-products and condiments. Not one single item is allowed to leave the plant without it being ratified by the officers appointed by the Olympic committee, which means that each product has to have a unique tracking code and must be of the highest possible standard.

Unfortunately for those diligent souls chosen to oversee production, they have had to organise a 24-hour vigil since the 20th May and will continue to do so until the final Paralympics have ended.

Food getting safer
Ji Zhengkun, head of the quality inspection department of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) agreed that in previous years the standard of Chinese produce had been lower, but that manufacturers have hopefully upped their game in time for the Games with the help of stricter health and safety guidelines.

He said: "The proportion of food products tested and the level of standard met in the first half (of 2008) was the highest in recent years. It shows food products are getting safer in general and lays a solid base for food safety during the Games."

China doing its best
Satisfaction control measures have also extended into the world of customer services, hospitality and finance. China is certainly doing its best to prove that it is ready to host the thousands of spectators and athletes arriving from around the world.

The Beijing Olympic games run from 8th - 24th August 2008.