Vehicles banned access to Olympic opening venue

Traffic authorities in Beijing on Friday controlled roads to the Olympics opening venue and many surrounding areas to ensure smooth running of transportation for the night gala of the approaching Olympics opening ceremony.

Later in the day, all vehicles not used for the Games were denied access to most of the Second Ring Road, the north of the Fourth Ring Road and streets near to the National Stadium (known as the Bird's Nest) where the opening ceremony would begin at 8 p.m. on Friday (August 8) night.

The traffic controls would be carried out at different hours, although not specified, and would last until participants and audience members dispersed after the ceremony. Ticket holders could get to the stadium by subway, regular buses and the Olympic special bus services.

Couples who would go to the marriage registration centers or have wedding processions today should plan their routes to avoid the closed roads, said a Beijing traffic official.

Beijing Public Transportation Company issued souvenir tickets, with images of the "Bird's Nest" and the "Water Cube," on its buses on Friday.