China promises religious services during Olympics

Source: Xinhuanet | 10-18-2007 09:21

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- China will offer religious services for foreigners arriving for the 2008 Olympic Games, an official in charge of religious affairs said on Wednesday.

"A large number of religious faithful will be arriving for the Games," said Ye Xiaowen, director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, at a briefing during the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

China is working on religious facilities at its Olympic venues with the help of the International Olympic Committee and referring to the practices at previous Games, he said. "Our religious services will be up to the previous standards."

Ye also dismissed allegations that China restricted the printing and sale of Bibles, which he said receive state subsidies and other preferential policies.

China, with 16 million Protestant Christians, has printed 42 million Bibles, he said.

"We distribute the Bible only through churches and do not allow ordinary bookstores to sell them," he said. "This is aimed only at preventing illegal vendors from driving up prices."

Editor:Zhang Ning