No star treatment at 'green' athletes village

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Beijing lifted the curtain on the Olympic village here on Wednesday, offering journalists a glimpse inside the home away from home for about 10,500 athletes during the August 8-24 Games.

The village's biggest claim to fame is its eco-friendly "green" credentials and its superb location -- situated just across the road from the Olympic Green, home to major sports venues, including the main stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place.

Liu Rong, a representative of the developers, Guo Ao, said the village in Beijing's northern suburbs was designed to make the most of solar power and other renewable energy techniques as well as water conservation.

"The harmony between culture, architecture and the environment has been...