Guangzhou Asian Games to have service centre for various religions
By ANITuesday, March 23, 2010
GUANGZHOU - The Guangzhou Asian Games’ will have a religious service centre, which will cater to the followers of different religions, when foreign participants arrive in the region for the event, starting in November.
Director of Guangzhou Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, Lin Jianxin, said the centre in the Asian Games Town will have six service rooms for Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism and Hinduism, as well as a serenity room.
“Opening a place for religious services is in line with practices at the previous Asian Games and the Beijing Olympic Games,” The China Daily quoted Jianxin, as saying.
Lin added that authorities have started to train workers and volunteers to work in the designated religious areas.
He further said that the religious service centre would be of a combined area of about 1,500 square meters.
Apart from the centre, some 28 temples, churches and religious buildings have also been designated for religious gatherings for those participating in and attending the Games.
According to the Games’ organizing committee, some 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia are expected to attend the upcoming event. (ANI)
