Zhao Xin, director of the Olympics Service Center of China International Travel Service Head Office, one of two tour agencies authorized by the tourism bureau, said foreign visitors who take part in the Olympic Homestay program must also sign up for a tour package, but he did not elaborate.

Last year, a trial run of the selection process for the homestay program, involving 41 families, was conducted in the Asian Games village community of Beijing, where the National Stadium is located.

"Most of the families had no problems communicating in English and lots of them were keen to show off their cooking and martial arts skills, and knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine," a community official surnamed Cai said.

Zhang Yizhuo, who has applied for the homestay program, said he stayed with an Australian family while attending the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

"The family I lived with was so warm, I was really impressed. So now I want to give foreign visitors the same warm welcome when Beijing hosts the Games," he said.

Another applicant, Han Rubing, said she and her husband are both fluent in English and are keen to be involved in the program.

"It is very meaningful to do something for the Olympic Games, especially helping foreigners to get a better understanding of China and its people," Han said.

Despite earlier concerns that Beijing will not have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the estimated 2.5 million visitors to the Olympic Games, including about 500,000 foreigners, Xiong said the city will be able to cope.

The Homestay program is more about cultural exchanges between people, he said.

(China Daily April 11, 2008)