International religious service centre established in Asian Games Town
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The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will provide a religious service centre at the Athletes' Village in the Asian Games Town and designated 28 religious spots throughout the city and two Christian youth associations as principal religious service spots to provide private areas of worship for Asian Games participants.
The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.
The Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee is dedicated to providing free and unfettered access for the personal religious worship of all athletes, coaches and technical officials during the Games and has nearly completed its multi-religion International Centre located within the Asian Games Town.
The religious service center will be located on the third floor of the western wing of the Area C Building in the International Zone at the Athletes' Village in the Asian Games Town.
In keeping with all stipulations set forth by the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Olympic Committee - as well as the facility built and used during the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 - this all new facility will be a gathering place adherents of and seven religion service rooms will be available for varied faiths including Buddhism, Muslim, Catholicism, Christianity and Hinduism, as well as a non-denominational serenity room, within the all-new Asian Games Town located at the foot of Lianhua Mountain in Panyu.
Thus far, the main building of the center has been completed and will be handed over for furnishing and decoration in coming weeks.
To accommodate adherents of different faiths, the new religious service centre will be open throughout The 16th Asian Games which begins in this southern Chinese city on November 12.
In addition, some 26 temples and churches and two more religious houses for Christian activities in varied downtown areas of Guangzhou will be open to international participants.
In advance of the Games, a number of places of worship are undergoing renovation in preparation for the Games, including Liurong Temple, the Temple of the Great Buddha and the Mausoleum of Moslem Masters.
The Temple of the Great Buddha, or Dafo Temple, near the renowned downtown Beijing road will be expanded and renovation as well as the expansion of temples and churches within the local government's urban planning preparations for the Games.
In addition, the 600-year-old Chenghuang Temple (or Town's God Temple), will undergo a thorough renovation before the Asian Games begin. Located in downtown Yuexiu district, the temple will be restored to its original facade. Built in the Ming Dynasty, it was the largest temple of its time in Lingnan, or South C hina and it is seen as of equal significance as Dafo Temple.
Combining the essence of Lingnan architecture and Cantonese folk arts, the Chenghuang Temple was a landmark in Guangzhou in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple will be used for gathering of Taoist activities after the conclusion of the Asian Games.
During the 16th Asian Games, International adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) will also find an active international LDS Branch located in the Tianhe District.
