CRI听力: Athletes' Village Makes Asian Games Competitors Feel at Home

For athletes travelling from one tournament to another, it is important to have one place where they can fully relax and prepare to do their best. The Athletes' Village for the Asian Games in Guangzhou is such a place. What kind of services can the athletes enjoy? What do they do in their spare time? How much they like the food there? Let's follow CRI's sports reporter Sun Yang to have a look.



The Athletes' Village is located in the north central part of the Asian Games Town. More than 140,000 competitors and officials from 45 countries and regions will live together during the Guangzhou Asiad, which has turned the area to an international center.

Chnar Muhammed Kane from Iraq has been living in the Village for one week. It's the first time she has been in China. The chess player said she loved the flower-dotted village so much, because it's where she can fully relaxed and enjoy the fragrance of flower blossom.

"I very much like the flowers. It's very nice scenery here. They use flowers for everything. We like going to see flowers with different colors, red, blue, yellow, everything."

A good living environment is very important for the athletes, and so is the catering service.
 
The dining hall in the Village provides 24-hour service with dishes from East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East as well as Muslim food and McDonald's.

The athletes can also have a taste of famous local snacks, such as shrimp dumplings and double-skin milk.

Dian Putrasantosab, a beach volleyball player from Indonesia, was impressed by the Chinese food, especially the noodles.

"I like the food here because Indonesia and China are the same when it comes to food. And noodles are very special in China."

Athletes living in the Village will never feel bored for they can go to the internet cafe, video shop, swimming pool, or just have a cup of Chinese tea.

To meet the requests of athletes with different religions, the Village set up a special center with religious rooms for Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists as well as mediation rooms.

Zhong Zhiyan, deputy director of the Athletes' Village, said the setting up of a religious center has been a tradition of the Asian Games, to ensure the athletes' religious practices are fully respected.

"Athletes from 12 countries and regions in Asia have visited the center since the opening of the Village. They are quite satisfied with our service here."

The director said all athletes, no matter what their religions are, hope the Asian Games go harmoniously and are a complete success.

For CRI, I'm Sun Yang in Guangzhou.