He Guangping, the deputy director general of the Department of Public Security of Guangong, said that 125 checkpoints on the region’s highways had pulled over more than 2.7 million vehicles since Oct. 10, interviewed more than 5 million passengers and nabbed “1,740 criminal suspects and 207 wanted criminals.” Also picked up: nearly 2 million pieces of fireworks and 65,000 kilograms (143,000 pounds) of dangerous chemicals.

He countered claims that tough security might be deterring spectators at many of the sporting events, saying “we believe we can deliver not only a safe Asian Games, but a public-friendly one.” Police and security officials also are monitoring license plates on vehicles — similar to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, cars with even and odd plates are kept off the roads on alternating days to reduce air pollution in the city.

But He said police are even relaxing that ruling.

“We realize it will be an inconvenience to many people, but we have drawn out plans to help reduce that,” He said.

“The restriction has been lifted between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.” Other ways the police say they are helping the public: they are notifying checkpoints further up the highway if a car has been checked once, just so they don’t get bothered again. And they are monitoring e-mails to police headquarters to see if there are any complaints, but He said everything so far has been “positive.” Rumors emerged of an altercation between two Iraqi athletes in the games village on Wednesday, but He said only that an Iraqi athlete had been ill, was taken for treatment, and that the athlete had returned safely to his room. The Iraqi delegation also said nothing unusual had happened in the village.

Security at another recent Asian sporting event — the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last month — was extremely stringent due to several threats in the region. There were soldiers with rifles and submachine guns behind sandbags at official hotels and venues and numerous electronic and security patdowns for officials, volunteers and specators0.

The atmosphere in Guangzhou isn’t oppressive, but police are taking no chances.

Chen Min, a police counterterrorism spokesman, said while there had been no specific threat to the Asian Games, security officials were holding training sessions and regular drills.

“We are confident that we can detect any threats and prevent any terrorist acts,” Chen said.