Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

Waitresses prepare food at the halal resturant at the Beijing International Media Center (BIMC) in Beijing, capital of China, July 28, 2008. The BIMC, designed to provide news information and reception services to more than 5,000 unaccredited reporters during the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, will serve as a channel for journalists to cover news about China.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Beijing Olympic media center opens Muslim dining, worship room

    BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing International Media Center (BIMC), which will serve more than 5,000 non-accredited reporters during the Games, opened a Muslim restaurant and worship room on Monday.

    BIMC official Cui Yaozhong said about 150 of all non-accredited reporters registered at the center were Muslims from both home and abroad. Full story

Volunteers provide service for reporters at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world. (Xinhua/Xu Jiajun) Photo Gallery>>>

Olympic Media Village opens, China opens to global media

    BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic Media Village opened on Friday for 21,600 domestic and foreign registered reporters, amid some foreign media's concerns about free reporting in China.

    Friday's People's Daily, the mouthpiece of China's ruling party, ran a commentary appealing to administrations and common people to "befriend the media." Full story