Athens International Radio (AIR 104.4 FM) started the broadcasting of a one-hour program in Mandarin Chinese every night from December 15.

Ioannis Synodinos, General Editor-in-Chief of Athens International Radio, told Xinhua that the one-hour program is provided free by China Radio International (CRI).

In July and August next year, before and during the Beijing Olympic Games, Athens International Radio will broadcast another 5-hour special program every day on the Beijing Olympic Games in English, French, German, Russian and Albanian.

He said these five languages are languages for the majority of tourists and major foreign communities in Athens, and people in Athens will therefore receive first-hand information about the Beijing Olympic Games.

Synodinos said that China has had great success in economic development and Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympic Games will attract the eyes of the world.

"But we have no voice from such an important and fascinating country," said Synodinos, a veteran TV anchorman and experienced journalist who has covered the Olympic Games since 1976. "Now we have it and I have no doubt that the program will be a big success."

Athens Radio International will broadcast the Mandarin Chinese program from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 11 p.m. to 12 p.m. every Sunday night.

China's ambassador to Greece, Luo Linquan, was the guest of the one-hour Mandarin program yesterday evening.

Luo said the Mandarin program will help Chinese people in Greece get access to information from their homeland and also serve as a window for Greeks to learn about China.

Athens International Radio was established in 2004, aiming to provide information on the Athens Olympic Games as well as tourism information to foreign visitors to the country.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2007)