Deng Yaping: Understand Chinese Culture better at the Olympic Village

Deng Yaping at the press conference.

(BEIJING, March 12) -- "The village is a place where all athletes can relax, where they won't be disturbed by outside factors, and where they can have a better understanding of Chinese culture," according to Deng Yaping, vice mayor of the Beijing Olympic Village on Wednesday.

Deng, a veteran table tennis player and four-time Olympic champion, made her speech at a press conference in Beijing, as one of five members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The Olympic Village adheres to every basic requirement set by the International Olympic Committee. Room size and various functions and services are relatively similar to those of past villages.

But the people living in the village will have a deep, positive impression of Chinese culture with special attention to humanistic care and superior services

A highlight of the village is the element of Chinese culture. The cultural activity department of BOCOG is primarily responsible for this part of the project. Currently the selection work is proceeding step by step, Deng said.

Occupying an area of 66 hectares, the Olympic Village is adjacent to the main competition venues in the south and Forest Park in the north and sits on the northern tip of Beijing's renowned central axis. The village will open on July 27, 2008, 10 days before the Olympics begin, and will be closed one month later. It will be converted into the Beijing Paralympic Village for August 30 to September 20, 2008.

The village is divided into three functional areas. The first one is the residential area; the second one is the international area; and the last one is the operational area. From the names, we can clearly perceive their functions. The residential area is where athletes and officials of all delegations will live, while the international area is a place for residents to spend their leisure time. The last area is where the management and operations will comprehensively be conducted.

According to Deng, the village can be extremely convenient for the athletes, coaches and other residents of the Games. Compared with past villages, the Beijing Olympic Village is "only five kilometers away from the main stadium. One can even walk to the stadium within a short time," she said.