China’s ruling Communist party and Beijing organisers have issued the official guideline on Olympics cheering to ensure crowds clap properly during the summer games.

Designed to help spectators cheer in a “smooth and civilised manner”, the four-step clapping method highlights Beijing’s determination to make a success of the games, which open on August 8. It also reflects government efforts to use the hosting of the Olympics as an opportunity to add impetus to long-standing drives to clamp down on bad habits among the people, such as unsporting conduct, spitting and queue-jumping.