Welcome, all you faithfuls

Athletes and officials of all faith can pray in the Olympic Village, and many religious places and multi-language priests are geared up to provide a serene religious atmosphere to visitors in Beijing.

A multi-faith center with 66 religious staff and volunteers opened in the village on Sunday where services of the world's major religions, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism, can be held.

"It's an international practice to host religious services for athletes and officials," Liu Hongliang, an official with Beijing Christian Council, said yesterday.