Stars make themselves at home

The Olympic Village is the ultimate place for "stargazing".

You can follow Usain Bolt, the fastest man on the planet, as he walks out of the dining hall wearing brightly colored extra-large sunglasses, then encounter pole vault queen Elena Isinbayeva at the fitness center.

Then, you find star British diver Tom Daley learning to play the bongo drums with volunteer musicians in a grassy area after passing China's top swimmer, Sun Yang, while he is filming the sights of the central park.

The presence of so many big names drew not only media attention during a Village tour on Thursday but also that of other athletes.

"The best thing about (living in the Village) is you can see a lot of famous athletes you've never seen before," Gonzalo Peillat, an Argentinean hockey player, told China Daily outside the main dining hall.

"I am so excited. I met Bolt just now, and he looks so cool. I also saw Serena Williams last night. Hopefully, I can meet more."

Julius Yego, a javelin thrower from Kenya, is not all that interested in meeting superstars — just the best in his sport.

"Many athletes I see here," he said. "But the one I want to see is Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway's Olympic record holder in the javelin). He's my role model. I have watched him, but have never met him, so I guess I will be excited to see him."

Sharing superb facilities, which include a well-equipped recreation center and a state-of-the-art gym, athletes have little trouble making new friends.

"I am so happy to see some old friends here and also to be able to make new friends as well," said Daley, Britain's title hope in men's 10m platform.

Leandro Barbosa, a Brazilian basketball player who plays for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, agreed.

"Yeah, the great thing is you meet a lot of friends — especially some you haven't seen for a long time," Barbosa said.

Trying to cater to the athletes' different tastes, the 5,000-seat main dining area provides more than 1,300 different dishes, divided into worldwide themes like "Best of British", "African & Caribbean", "India & Asia" and "European & American".

It runs 24 hours a day and includes an outdoor food area that is open from 11:30 am until 9 pm.

"I never thought I could find kideri (a typical Kenyan dish) here. It's a big surprise and makes me feel at home," Yego said.

Besides the dining hall, the other popular area in the Village is the Globe, the main recreational center.

Located at the heart of the residential zone, the Globe, which includes a private cinema, a bar, a music studio, a computer gaming room and a pin-trading booth, helps the athletes re-energize after a tough of competition or training.

Meanwhile, a jazz band performs at the bar to entertain athletes as they pass by.

"It's awesome. We love coming here. It's a great place to relax," said Tom Boonen, a Belgian cyclist.

The Village, which opened on June 29, will accommodate more than 16,000 Olympians from more than 200 countries and regions in apartments ranging from one-bedroom units to multi-bed townhouses.

Meanwhile, a world-class healthcare center has been set up that can care for up to 200 athletes daily. A multi-faith center is also in the compound to supply spiritual support.

Contact the writer at sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn