Some 665 athletes and officials from more than 50 countries and regions have visited the religious service center at the Olympic Village since it opened on July 27, a BOCOG official said Friday.

Sixty-nine professional religious service volunteers have been holding services around the clock in English, Arabic, Italian, French, Korean and Hebrew, Deng Yaping, deputy director of the Olympic Village department and spokeswoman for the village, told a press conference at the Beijing International Media Center.

On Aug 3, one foreigner visited the center and asked for a prayer ceremony to be held for his mother who had died a few days ago. A priest prayed for him, Deng said.

Photo of the buildings of the athletes' Olympic Village taken during a media visit, on August 5, 2008 in Beijing, three days ahead of the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.[Agencies]

Last Sunday, the same priest asked his congregation to pray for the man's mother. The man said he left the center with peace of mind and was greatly moved by the love and concern he received from the people of different countries, she said.

The village provides Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu services, she said.

Deng also briefed reporters on other services at the village.

A big draw, she said, had been the main dining hall for athletes, which on Aug 8, served the largest number of guests in Olympic history.

Between noon and 5 pm, 18,634 people dined there, which far exceeded the numbers recorded at the past two summer Games, she said.

The Beijing Olympic Village has also received the largest number of world dignitaries in Games history. As of Thursday, 62 royals, heads of state, government officials and leaders of international organizations had visited, she said.

Among them were International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and his predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch, she said.

Deng reiterated the Olympic Village's claim of being the "greenest ever".

It treats six tons of kitchen waste, and replaces 7,674 pieces of cotton textiles, including bed sheets and pillowcases, every day, she said.

Hot water is supplied via a solar heating system.

On favorite dishes at the canteen, Deng said Beijing roast duck was the clear winner, with an average of 600 being consumed on a daily basis.

The canteens have also set world records for the choice of food they provide, she said.

There are 460 dishes from all major international cuisines on offer around the clock in the main canteen. The menus change on an eight-day cycle, she said.

China Daily - Xinhua