A total of 200 sharpshooters of the Beijing public security organs took part in a shooting competition in Xihongmen of the Daxing District Tuesday for their chance to safeguard the 2008 Olympics, said Wednesday's China Times.

The one-month competition is being held to choose top sharpshooters for a special police force, which will be imminently established for the Beijing Olympics, said Ma Qiang, an official with Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Among the 200, ten will be awarded to be top sharpshooters and 20 others will acquire the titles of excellent sharpshooters.

The 30 sharpshooters will be treated as specialized human resources and are likely to join the special police force.

The competitors are required to accomplish tasks suck as rescuing hostages or defusing bombs.

The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau has invited international shooting judges from the sports brigade of the People's Liberation Army to guarantee fairness.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2005)