A senior official in charge of the Beijing Olympic Games said today that security during the Games can absolutely be guaranteed with an increased budget and a national security command.

"Security management is going on smoothly and we are absolutely sure that the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be safe and secure," said Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), at a press conference.

China has set up a national command for the safety at the Olympics. A coordination team headed by the ministry of public security and involving various authorities including armed forces will ensure a quick response to dangers, said Liu, who is also vice mayor of Beijing.

Beijing's Olympics budget has risen from US$1.6 billion to US$2 billion, thanks to the heightened tasks in security management and the appreciation of yuan, Chinese currency.

The figure still stays short of the US$2.4 billion budget for the Athens Olympics in 2004, he noted, adding that the committee would make a second revision of the budget in line with needs.

Beijing organizers are in touch with international organizations, the former host countries of Olympics and foreign embassies to China as a means to ensure safety, Liu added.