Chen Zhili, vice-chairwoman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, was named head of the Olympic and Paralympic Village on Saturday.

Liu Yandong, vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), announced the appointment and the establishment of the work team for the village at their first work conference.

Du Deyin, Chen Jian, Yu Zaiqing, Lu Hao, Cheng Kai, Zang Aimin and Elsie Leung are the deputy heads of the village, Liu said.

The Olympic Village will open on July 27 and later be converted and used for the ensuing Paralympics, before closing on Sept 20.

Chen Zhili, who is also the first vice-president of BOCOG, said the Olympic Village shoulders the heavy responsibility of helping to create a successful Games.

The village will be home to about 16,000 athletes and delegates from countries and regions across the globe, and about 7,000 registered media professionals, during the Games.

Chen said the Olympic Village plays a crucial role by promoting further understanding and friendship among Chinese people, athletes, officials and tourists, and in carrying forward the Olympic spirit.

She put the clear division of responsibilities and the setting up of an efficient mechanism as a priority to ensuring the coordinated and highly efficient running of the villages.

Liu Yandong, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee, said potential security risks should be eradicated, and contingency plans should be continuously emphasized at the village.

Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, said trials and rehearsals at the village should be carried out to the last detail.

(China Daily April 14, 2008)