The operation team for the Olympic (Paralympic) Village of the Beijing Olympic Games was formed on Thursday.

Taking the floor at a meeting to announce the conception of the team, President Liu Qi of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) described it as an important event in the preparatory work for the Beijing Olympics because the village is the base of services for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Being one of the most important venues during the Games, he said, the village will provide first class services to ensure the success of the Games.

He urged all staff members to attach great importance to carrying out the concept of the "People's Olympics" and the people-oriented principle.

Outlining his requests, Liu put forth seven specific endeavors:

-- ensure the on-schedule completion of the buildings and facilities;

-- ensure the availability of all materials;

-- ensure the timely assignment of all posts;

-- ensure the timely installation of all provisional facilities;

-- ensure the success of the comprehensive full-load tests;

-- ensure the Games-time normal operation of the village; and

-- ensure timely village work transition from the Olympics to the Paralymics.

In a word, the village's construction and the team's preparations must meet the over-all demands of the organization and operation of the Olympic Games.

Liu also called for orderly, smooth and efficient operation of the village through the team's management and coordination systems and the staff's attention to details, awareness of risks and emergency-response capabilities, and through necessary test runs and rehearsals to lay a solid foundation for the Games-time operations.

Du Deyin, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing People's Congress, deputy-mayor of the Olympic (Paralympic) Village and director of the operation team, attended the meeting and made a speech.

He stressed the need to make the best preparations, as the village is the most important non-competition venue for the Beijing Olympics and home to Games-time athletes and journalists.

The meeting was chaired by Lu Hao, vice mayor of Beijing, deputy mayor of the Olympic village and first vice director of the operation team.

Leading officials of BOCOG and departments of the Beijing Municipality, staff of the operation team, and representatives of the Beijing Olympic partners, sponsors and suppliers attended the meeting.

(BOCOG January 11, 2008)