Olympic Village impresses mock dwellers with Chinese culture

BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Over 2,000 "athletes" who poured into the Beijing Olympic Village in the latest test run of the athletes' compounds were asked to be picky and choosy.
Mock dwellers, however, gave thumbs-up to the facilities and were impressed with Chinese culture that permeates the village, said the village's general secretary Wu Jingmin.
Non-Chinese Olympic villagers, if they like, can pick up their Chinese names which use phonetic sounds for foreign names.
Sun Shishu, a Chinese language teacher working in the village, gave dozens of Chinese names in the first several hours of the trial run of the village.

"Let your surname be An, which means peace and safety. And your first name is Taifu, which means peace and happiness," Sun explained to Typhen Ann, an engineer from Britain, who works at the Main Cafeteria of the Olympic Village.
The village, which is the home to about 16,000 athletes and officials during the Games, sits on the north end of the axis of Beijing. Important buildings of all ages, including the Forbidden City and the Tiananmen Square, are aligned down this line.
Further north lies the Olympic Green. To the south is the National Stadium, popularly known as the "Bird Nest".
Deng Yaping, the village's vice mayor and four-time table tennis Olympic champion, believes the biggest attraction for the Olympic Village lies in its Chinese culture.
"For most of the (foreign) athletes I've talked with, they are amazed at Chinese culture. They want to try, to feel what is the real Chinese culture," Deng said.
"The village is a place where the athletes can unwind and get to know Chinese culture. We want to give them a full experience with Chinese culture."
The Olympic Village is divided into northern and southern halves. In the north, or the International Area, are the Head of Village Office, Flag Square, shopping areas, restaurants, entertainment and fitness facilities. In the south are athletes' apartments, whose main gates is decorated with a bronze art panel.
On the lawns around the apartments stand Chinese traditional lamp posts and dragon-patterned stone pillars, while water lilies float on the ponds.
The buildings in the International Area are temporary, except for a Chinese temple compound right next to the Flag Square, which is used as the Head of Village Office where Deng will work during the Games.

Chinese handicraft workroom sits in the International Area, painted with Chinese traditional colors of red, yellow and blue. About 20 handicraftsmen will show their talent in embroidery, woodcarving, painting and Beijing Opera mask making during the Games.
"Athletes can watch the artists finishing their works, and they can buy whatever they like," said Wang Jinqiang, the workroom manager.
The Beijing Olympic Village will officially open on July 27 and close on August 27. Also as the Paralympic Village, it will reopen on August 30 and close on September 20.
Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/10/content_8522081.htm

China warns Dalai not to disrupt Games

BEIJING: China on Monday said the Dalai Lama should do nothing that would result in disruption of the Olympic Games next month if he really wanted to continue the dialogue for settlement of the Tibet problem. The Tibetan leader must prove his sincerity about solving the problem with his deeds and not merely his words, a government spokesman said. These demands were conveyed by United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China officials, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, Du Qinglin, to representatives of the Dalai at their recent talks. The Tibetan leader has been asked to refrain from backing any of the arguments made in favour of splitting China to create an independent Tibet. The Dalai Lama should openly and explicitly promise and prove it in his actions not to support activities to disturb the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese leaders said. He should also not back any plot to spread criminal activities in the name of Tibetan independence, the Chinese leaders said. "The door for dialogue is always open and contacts will make positive moves as long as the Dalai Lama suits his actions with his words and truly practices the four 'not-to-supports'," the UFWD spokesman said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Dont_disrupt_Games_China_to_Dalai/articleshow/3208630.cms

Games a new start for China

BEIJING, July 9 -- China can host a high-level Olympic Games successfully even after the devastating earthquake that jolted southwestern Sichuan province and neighboring regions on May 12, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:
The massive disaster was a major test for China and the country passed it splendidly.
The quake will not batter the determination of 1.3 billion people to host a successful Olympics, nor will it fail the expectation of the Chinese nation to realize the century-old dream.
The Beijing Olympics will be a brand new start for the Chinese nation and the 1.3 billion Chinese people are opening their arms to welcome all the friends of the world to come.
The Games will enable China and the rest of the world to enhance mutual understanding, seek common ground and promote cooperation.
The questions, misunderstandings and rejections that the nation may face along the road will not hamper its sincere intention to communicate with the world.
China's joining the Olympic family is closely connected with the process of its reform and opening up, its rapid development and modernization, and its pursuit of a higher-level civilization and contribution to the world peace.
We will give warm applauses to all the players participating in the Games as it is more important to participate in the Olympics than to win and we will safeguard fairness and justice during the Games, sharing the honor of the Olympic spirit with the world. The 100,000 volunteers, 400,000 city volunteers and 1 million social volunteers will provide good services to guests from all over the world, getting joy and friendship through contributions to the Games.

Beijing has been making a final push for a successful Olympics in order to satisfy the international community, the players and the people.
(Source: China Daily)