Lasagna, Beijing roast duck or kosher food. Athletes from more than 200 countries and regions will likely be able to find a taste of home in the Beijing Olympic Village.
The choices of meals in the village are grouped into different zones - Chinese, Asian, international and Mediterranean. The variety of cuisine underlines the meticulous preparations officials have made to welcome some 16,000 athletes and coaches who will call the village home as they begin to arrive in Beijing. It officially opened on Sunday.
"We want to make this place a nice, quiet and comfortable place to stay, a place that feels like home," said village secretary-general Wu Jingmi.
The sprawling complex, which measures 800 meters from north to south and 900 meters across, is only 20 minutes' walk northwest of the centerpiece Games venues - the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center, known as the "Water Cube".
The village's main restaurant can feed up to 5,000 people. There are also teahouses, coffee shops, a barbershop, a post office, a library, a clinic and other shops sprinkled throughout the facility.
About 100 foreign and 2,300 Chinese chefs and waiters offer 24-hour catering services. Menus change every eight days, and the healthy meals are prepared with athletes in mind.
"We have very strict rules to make sure the food is safe and that calorie-counts for each dish are made clear for the athletes' discretion since there may be stringent weight rules in some events," Wu said.
Along with the home-style food options in the village are customized beds, spaces for religious masses and entertainment facilities, all part of the effort to provide a comfortable stay for athletes, Wu said.
Olympians even have opportunities to get a Chinese name to add color to their Olympic experience. "I believe they will find it interesting to stay here," Wu said.
Construction of the complex began in the summer of 2005. The 42 apartment buildings were all built with water-recycling technology, environmentally friendly construction materials and solar-powered lighting. The apartments save two thirds of the energy used in an ordinary Beijing apartment.
Vehicles using alternative fuels will carry athletes around the village and to and from Olympic venues. The complex was built according to IOC (International Olympic Committee) rules, Wu said, but elements of Chinese culture have been woven into the design and decoration, making it unlike any another Olympic village.
It boasts colors of Beijing's ubiquitous gray brick walls, white stone balconies and red lanterns. Cultural elements like embroidery, wood carving, painting and Beijing Opera masks will be displayed in the courtyard of the international zone.
"The village is a place where athletes can unwind and get to know Chinese culture. We want to give them a full experience with Chinese culture," said Deng Yaping, a famed Olympic table tennis champion and the village's deputy head.
A religious center has also been set up in the village in accordance with IOC regulations.
Deng said on Friday that 46 countries and regions have had representatives in the village since its preliminary opening on July 20. Organizers expect the village to be fully lodged.
Secretary-general Wu said thousands of staff and volunteers are ready to receive athletes and nothing has been left to chance.
"We have planned for every contingency, but security, services and management are still big challenges for us," he said.
