The Olympic Identity and Accreditation Card, a personalized card granted by the International Olympic Committee, grants its holder the right to watch the Olympic Games.

Card holders can stay in China during the valid period on the card and needn't apply for a visa.

China will offer more conveniences to foreigners during the period, including a one-year work visa to those employed by the Olympic Games committee.

The country has also announced it will relax restrictions on foreign reporters ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The new regulations issued in December state that visiting journalists do not need to apply to provincial foreign affairs offices for permission to report in every province, but need to obtain prior consent of organizations or individuals they want to interview.

The rules also allow visiting journalists to hire Chinese citizens to help them in their reporting.

The regulations came into force on January 1, 2007 and expire on October 17, 2008.

Now foreign reporters just have to apply to relevant government offices to get permission to interview officials or to travel to certain areas.