Volunteers provide service for reporters at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.(Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
Zhao Jinfang, deputy director of the Olympic and Paralympic Village Operation Team, hosted a brief ceremony earlier in the morning at the gate of North Star Media Village, also known as the Green Homeland, to welcome the accredited journalists who will cover the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games.
"Despite the differences of colors, languages and nationalities between us, we share the fascination and joy of the Olympic Games with each other," said Zhao, who's also supervising North Star. North Star and Huiyuan are the two residential compounds of the media village for the Beijing Games.
Media delegates from Xinhua, Beijing Olympic Broadcasting company (BOB), National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and TVB from Hong Kong, were the first accredited journalists to check in to North Star. They received a special gift -- a "Golden Key" -- at a brief ceremony.
The keys represent the the media village operating team's desire to offer the highest level of service, forge new friendships and spread good will, Zhao explained.
"All things here are big and new. It's fantabulous!" said an NBC staff member named Susan, whose team was given a special pass to settle at North Star before the official opening on Thursday.
The other residential part of the media village, Huiyuan, also welcomed its first guest on Friday morning as a journalist from Xinhua checked in at 8:30 a.m. (GMT/UST +8).
Reporters check in at the reception of the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.(Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
As the biggest-ever residential compound hosting the media staff for the Olympic Games, North Star, which is a 10-15 minute bus ride to the Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcast Center (IBC), covers 10.2 hectares and offers 6,000 rooms. The 1,000 rooms in Huiyuan, which is just 500m away from the MPC and IBC, have been booked out by the accredited media.
The media village has established a whole set of facilities and services for journalists, such as fitness centers, laundry services, a post office, bank, supermarket, and swimming pool. Some shuttle buses will operate round-the-clock during the Olympics.
Both North Star and Huiyuan are operated by staff from five- star hotels and feature beautiful man-made streams and grassy areas. A temple that dates back over 300 years to the Ming Dynasty is well persevered within North Star.
The media compounds will become residential buildings after the Games.
Reporters arrive at the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
A reporter checks in at the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
Volunteers provide service for reporters at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
Two foreign reporters walk to their departments at the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
A receptionist smiles at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
Volunteers stand at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
Reporters arrive at the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
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