Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympics athletes' village "softly" opened here on Sunday as the advance contingents of 12 national Olympic committees were expected to check in.

    "The advance men from 12 national Olympic committees are scheduled to check in at the village today," Yin Lei, an organizing committee staff at the village's arrival and departure center, told Xinhua.

    "We call it a soft opening," he said.

    During the Aug. 8-24 Games, the village will be home to about 16, 000 athletes and officials. The 42-building complex in the north of the capital city also includes a hospital, a bank, shops, places of worship, restaurants, a swimming pool, and gyms.

    Officially it will open to delegations on July 27, two weeks before the start of the Olympics.

    After the Paralympics in September, the village will be housing for the public.