Beijing Olympic organisers are determined to avoid dampening the festive spirit of the Olympic Games by imposing heavy-handed security measures.
Liu Shaowu, deputy head of Olympic security, said the priority was to guarantee a safe Olympics, but to do so in a low-key way that avoided detracting from the Games atmosphere.
Fears have been raised in the media here that security would be so tight it would squeeze the fun out of the Games.
"Our security committee has two objectives," Liu said.
"One is to guarantee Olympic security, and the other is to contribute to an auspicious atmosphere for the Games."
Liu said security personnel would be mostly in plain clothes, melting into the crowds at venues.
"It will be a difficult job for spectators at any Olympic venue to spot security forces carrying weapons," he said.
Earlier reports had said some 90,000 police would be called up for active duty during the August 8-24 Games, backed by thousands of volunteers.
Liu said that recruitment of specialist volunteers from China's elite army colleges and police training colleges would begin this month.
In addition to personnel on the ground, four patrol helicopters would be put into service "very soon" as part of the Olympic security operation, he said.
Beijing Olympic organisers plan to put the security operation to the test during the second half of 2007, when 26 international sporting events will be hosted at Olympic venues.
"These test events will be used as practice runs for our security measures," said Liu.
Beijing organisers have not released security expenditure figures but have said the cost will be lower than for Athens, which hosted the last summer Olympic Games in 2004.
Greece's security operation for the Olympics was the most expensive in the Games' history, costing more than $1.3 billion.