Deng Yaping, deputy director of the BOCOG Olympic Village and a table tennis legend who has won four Olympic gold medals and 14 world gold medals, was recently interviewed by China.org.cn and discussed the Olympic Village with netizens.
"The Olympic Village will open starting July 20," Deng said during the interview. "Our group is the first to set off to work. Our work will last for two whole months, from July 20 to September 20, when the Paralympic Village will close."
"So our Olympic Village team has to face tough tasks during the Games."
She added that currently, her team is almost finished with a variety of jobs.
They are ready to welcome athletes and officials from 205 countries and regional delegations who will live in the Olympic Village. They conducted many rehearsals and held more comprehensive practices on July 3 and 4.
"Since no testing competition was arranged for the Olympic Village during the 'Good Luck Beijing' testing competitions, we have to test our own work, operation plans, volunteers and service staffs," Deng explained. "Therefore, related institutes' personnel were invited to the Olympic Village to attend the July 3 and 4 tests to teach us many valuable lessons and give us suggestions."
Eating at the Olympic Village
The Olympic Village will supply food similar to what has been provided at past Olympics and in line with recommendations by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and BOCOG experts.
Because a large proportion of people from many countries usually eat Western food, the Olympic Village will serve 70 percent Western food and 30 percent Asian food, which will include Japanese cuisine, Korean cuisine and some Chinese specialties. In consideration of Arab living habits, some Muslim food will also be available at the Village.
Traffic at the Olympic Village
Taking up 66 hectares, the Olympic Village features a residential zone with 42 buildings, including entertainment locations as well as an international zone with commercial streets. The Beijing Olympic Village is smaller than the Athens Olympic Village but will function similarly.
During the Games, the Olympic Village will accommodate 16,000 people, which includes 15,000 athletes and accompanying officials.
Various types of vehicles will be used inside the village. In order to demonstrate the three concepts of "High-tech Olympics, People's Olympics and Green Olympics," the Village will provide battery-powered buses, which release reduced emissions. These buses make minimal noise and so will limit potential disturbance for athletes when passing through the residential zone.
The bus routes inside the Olympic Village are organized by sport. There is a central bus station for each sport which will take passengers to its corresponding venue.