Olympic village warms up for operation

People walk past the gate of the Olympic Village in Beijing at night in this photo taken on July 3 2008.

Athletes' apartment buildings in the Olympic Village in Beijing is seen in this picture taken on July 20, 2008. The village began testing operations on Sunday and will be officially opened on July 27 for the Olympics and on Paralympics.

Athletes' apartment buildings in the Olympic Village in Beijing is seen in this picture taken on July 20, 2008. The village began testing operations on Sunday and will be officially opened on July 27 for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Flag bearers raise flags in the Olympic Village in Beijing on July 20, 2008. The village began testing operations on Sunday and will be officially opened on July 27 for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Volunteers and staff dine in the Olympic Village in Beijing on July 20, 2008. The village began testing operations on Sunday and will be officially opened on July 27 for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Beijing's Olympic Village became fully operational Sunday and started warming up for its official opening on July 27, when 16,000 athletes and officials will move in.

The last potted plant had been put in place and the trained volunteers and staffers were clad in their uniforms.

They were going through all procedures to smooth out any wrinkles before the world's largest-ever Olympic village throws open its doors to the world.

Sun Qian, a volunteer assisting delegations, was thrilled to see "everyone is in action."

The 66-hectare compound comprises three areas - the residential district, the international district and the operational district.

In the business zone, athletes can do their banking, buy congratulatory flower bouquets for medalists and sip coffee in wooden chairs outside the caf.

A nearby news vendor received recent publications, such as Sports Illustrated, at 3 pm every day, and also peddled panda postcards and 600 different books introducing China.

There was also a massage room, and, according to Chen Shuai, one of the 80 senior student volunteers from China Traditional Chinese Medicine College, guests could enjoy 30- to 40-minute massages free of charge.

Professional hairdressers were also on hand for medalists hoping to look their best at awarding ceremonies.

Ma Cuiyun, a hairdresser with more than 30 years' experience, said more than 50 hairdressers at the village had received beautification and English-language training.

To help them learn how to cut non-Asian hair - often softer, finer and more difficult to shape - volunteers practiced on foreign university students.

French major Wang Xiaoxiao, who would assist at the village newsstand, said he was not disappointed his duties would not permit him time to watch the Games.

"Here, I can meet athletes every day, and I feel a stronger connection to the Games as part of the village."