The Olympic Village for the Beijing Games was officially opened Sunday as hundreds of Chinese athletes started checking into the 66-hectare compound.
Guo Jinlong, executive president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), addresses the opening ceremony of the Olympic Village in Beijing, China, July 27, 2008. The Olympic Village was officially opened Sunday morning as dozens of Chinese athletes entered the compound. The village will provide accommodations for 16,000 athletes, coaches and their entourage coming for the Olympics.
Photo taken on July 26, 2008 shows the flag-raising area of the Olympic Village in Northern Beijing, capital of China.
Chinese basketball player Yao Ming poses during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Village in Beijing, China, July 27, 2008. Some members of the Chinese delegation to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games checked in at the Olympic Village early Monday morning when the Village opened to athletes from all over the world for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Chinese athlete Liu Xiang (2nd R) attends the opening ceremony of the Olympic Village in Beijing, China, July 27, 2008. Some members of the Chinese delegation to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games checked in at the Olympic Village early Monday morning when the Village opened to athletes from all over the world for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Photo taken on July 26, 2008 shows the interior environment of the Olympic Village in Northern Beijing, capital of China.
Photo taken on July 26, 2008 shows the residential building for China's Sports Delegation in the Olympic Village in Northern Beijing, capital of China. The village officially opens on Sunday and is now ready to receive 16,000 athletes and officials from over 200 countries and regions.
The village mayor Chen Zhili announced the opening of the village, which is about 20 minutes' walk northwest of two centerpiece Games venues -- the Bird's Nest stadium and aquatic venue Water Cube.
"We now welcome athletes from around the world to come to the Games," said Chen.
"We will try to satisfy the needs of people from different cultural and religious backgrounds. We hope you will like the facilities and services, and achieve desirable results at the Games," she said.
The Chinese delegation was the first to check in by raising its national flag in the village. Athens Olympic 110 meters hurdles champion Liu Xiang and NBA star Yao Ming were among about a hundred athletes who were present at the opening ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2008)