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On July 27, 2008, the Olympic Village was officially opened in Beijing as dozens of Chinese athletes entered the compound. The village will provide accommodations for 16,000 athletes, coaches and their entourage coming for the Olympics.

According to a report by echinacities.com, the Chinese delegation was the first to check in by raising its national flag in the village. Athens Olympics 110 meters hurdles champion Liu Xiang and NBA star Yao Ming were among about a hundred athletes who were present at the ceremony. China has announced that it will send the largest ever delegation of 1,099 members to the Games, including 639 athletes.

At least two other delegations, Cuba and Poland, scheduled to arrive at the village that day.

The sprawling village is divided into three sections of the international area, residential area and operations area. It contains a main restaurant that can feed 5,000 people, its own fire station, teahouses, coffee shops, a barbershop, post office, shops, library and a clinic.

Diversified meals, along with customized beds, space for religious masses and entertainment facilities, are part of the efforts to provide comfortable stay for the athletes.