We’ve had the campaign to help Beijingers clean up their act, so to speak, when it comes to the Three S’s — shoving, spitting and swearing — kudos to the municipal government on that one. This is now being supplemented with the Three C’s — clapping, chanting and cheering — the new shift in focus to help cement 2008’s future legacy, by what could best be described as crowd coaching.

A recent report on CNN swooped in on the latest phase of Olympicmania — the art of getting spectators tuned in to the job at hand. Yes, a packed stadium of local fans knowing how, or how not to behave when Liu Xiang is racing for that last hurdle with the world record beckoning, is crucial. You might even say the synchronised roars are worth their weight in gold.

All the preparation will no doubt ensure that there are no deja-vu moments like the chaos that ensued when Chinese fans went ballistic after their team lost to Japan in the 2004 Asian Football Cup final.

The Beijing Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) has taken the initiative by providing training for its thousands of members. Trainees are put through their paces during rigorous lunchtime sessions, learning how to clap, chant and cheer in solidarity. The motivating factor behind the move is to make sure crowds mind their Ps and Qs. Putting the wrong p in the wrong q is not an option it seems.

Fans are also being coached on the rules of each sport, to ensure cheers come at the appropriate moment. That will bring a sigh of relief for athletes in sports like shooting, tennis and gymnastics that require moments of deathly quiet.

Chen Huiping, one of the organisers of the group, told China Daily that cheer squad training began in early June last year and aimed to prepare Beijingers for China's biggest-ever sporting event.

"People shouting out bad language when watching sport games is definitely not the public image we want to present to the world in the coming 2008," said Chen.

Can enthusiasm be staged?

He has a point. Polite, courteous and generous are the ideals of sports fans. But in reality, a look at sports crowd behaviour worldwide often leaves a lot to be desired. Recently racial incidents in cricket and motor racing have highlighted the acrimonious extent to which sports fans will go. And although administrators promise tougher measures towards unruly sport fans, there are no signs of hooliganism abating. It’s also par for the course in events like British football games, Indian cricket matches and South African rugby derbies for crowds to boo opposition teams and name-call at every opportunity. Some would say its part of cultural sporting tradition. The line between testosterone-induced boyish behavior and malicious intent is a fine one indeed.

Liu Jingmin, an executive vice-president of the Beijing Olympic organising committee and also vice-mayor of Beijing was quoted as saying there were several aspects to the spectator schooling initiative. They needed to show up at the venues (a good point), be enthusiastic, know the rules and cultivate good behavior.

“If athletes perform well, we want fans to applaud them, no matter where they come from,” said Liu.

That’s the spirit. But doesn’t the whole idea of crowd coaching mean fans who have waited so long for their glorious five-ringed moment will be devoid of any exuberance and spontaneous expression. Would they need a nod from on high before leaping to their feet and extolling the virtues of their sporting idols? Can enthusiasm be staged?

In Western colleges cheerleaders perform the job of coaching crowds, but on closer inspection it appears they work on the fans inherent bias towards their team to stir things up. And of course in August any athlete wearing a vest with China across the back is the crowd favourite. Good sportsmanship versus heckling the hell out of anyone who isn’t Chinese. Just like the customer is always king, one assumes the host will always be gracious.

And no doubt, gracious the host shall be, but in that moment of burning passion when the gold medal beckons and jia you Zhonguo (come on China) is raising the rafters, will any amount of training with yellow inflatable batons, carefully rehearsed slogans or predetermined moves really be remembered? Let’s wait and see.