- Title: CHINA: OLYMPIC GAMES - In Beijing's green Olympic Village everyone is equal
- Date: 6th March 2008
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MARCH 5, 2008) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE GATES TO OLYMPIC VILLAGE SIGN ON GATES MODEL OF THE OLYMPIC AREA MODEL OF THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE
- Embargoed: 21st March 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVACJ0OEOZEKN40JL6ZN4LGO2HMH
- Story Text: Beijing's Olympic Village is priding itself on its quota of green technology. The village, lying close to the main Olympic stadium in the north of Beijing, is fully equipped with solar water heaters and water saving technology ranging from rain water collection to reused water heating and cooling systems.
Olympic organisers gave a preview of the unfinished village on Wednesday (March 5), which will hold 16,000 athletes and officials during the Olympics, and 7,000 during the Paralympics.
The site's planners claim that 50 per cent of the village will be environmentally friendly green space. They estimate that the heating and cooling system which relies on reused water from a sewage treatment plant will result in a 60 per cent electrical saving for the village.
Despite the environmentally friendly residences, athletes remain cautious over Beijing's pollution problems, some American athletes reportedly plan to wear pollution masks between competitions.
Yu Debin, Deputy Director of the Olympic Village, insisted that Beijing would follow its Olympic Village's example in going green for the Olympics.
"Beijing's weather is good. The Olympics are drawing closer and construction work is finishing, we will move all our heavy machinery away from the site and enter into an environmental phase. Meanwhile, this year Beijing's cars will meet international regulations on exhaust fume emissions, this will also have a great effect on Beijing's weather," he said.
Yu Debin also insisted that every athlete would recieve equal treatment in the Olympic Village, regardless of their celebrity status. His comments followed a statement by world tennis number one Roger Federer announcing he was unsure whether he would stay with fellow athletes during the Olympics.
Federer said this week he had yet to make up his mind after experiencing difficulties in Athens in 2004, where his high profile drew a lot of attention from other athletes.
The village will be converted into a "high-end residential community" after renovations following the Paralympics to "guarantee its legacy", Yu said.
Facilities in the village include shopping centres, a bank, worship facilities for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, and a 24 hour restaurant.
The village will provide Chinese cultural performances, including tai chi and other martial arts exercises, for athletes' entertainment, organisers said.
Beds in the village will measure 1 metre by 2 metres but organisers said that larger beds measuring 4 metres could be provided if needed, they cited Chinese superstar basketball superstar Yao Ming. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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