Beijing Sunday broke ground on the Olympic Village, home to some 16,000 athletes and sports officials during the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Village is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007 and handover to the Beijing Oragnizing Committee (BOCOG) at the beginning of 2008.

It will open to receive athletes two weeks prior to the start of the Games.

The Olympic Village will also accommodate 7,000 people during the Paralympics.

Located in the Olympic Green in north of the Chinese capital, the Olympic Village consists of a residential area and an international area, covering a total area of 660,000 square meters.

In additional to 22 six-story buildings and 20 nine-story buildings, the village has a hospital, a library, a track, two gyms, restaurants, swimming pools and tennis courts.

According to BOCOG, the apartments will be renovated and sold to the citizens after the Paralympic Games. 

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2005)