The buzz around hosting visitors for the Games

 

   

" style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 120px" title=""/>Han Rubing's family will share their modest flat with overseas visitors during the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics Games from August 1 to September 30.

Han, 37, and her family, who live in Anhuili community, several blocks away from the Bird's Nest, was the first approved by the Beijing Tourism Administration to be a host family during the Games.

"It would be a wonderful life experience," exclaimed Han when interviewed in her two-bedroom apartment. She said after sprucing up the place, she would use her son's room for foreign guests, and she, her husband and son will share the master bedroom.

Han's family was selected mainly due to their strong English communication skills and keen interest in sports.

Han is an English instructor at the Tourism Institute of Beijing Union University; her husband is a lawyer, and their son has practiced Wushu since he was a child.

The municipal tourism bureau said families with a spare room and at least one member who can speak a foreign language can apply to take part in the program, and the visitors must be given their own air-conditioned bedroom, be provided with clean sheets, and have access to shower facilities and a telephone.

" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px" title=""/> Han Rubing (L) is seen here together with her son (C) and her husband. [File photo]

When reporters from a local newspaper recently visited residents in a community 1.5 kilometers away from the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, 21 of the 47 families interviewed said they were very keen to be host families.

"We want to contribute to the Olympics, for it is the first time for China to host the games," said a Mr. Xu, who owns a three-bedroom apartment.

Among 21 families that said yes, 13 thought it was a good way to help pay their mortgage loans.

"I care about the rent most," said a 28-year-old man surnamed Deng who owns a 65-square-meter apartment. He took a 200,000 yuan mortgage from a bank to buy his home. "The rent will be a welcome help."

The costs per night in a host family should range from 400 yuan to 600 yuan ($50-$80), according to the tourism bureau. These rates are much lower than hotels in the city for the Games.

Figures show the average price for a standard room at a five-star hotel - under the organizers' contract - will be about $380 a night.

Mr. Chen owns a 100-square-meter house in Datun community near the main Olympic venues, but he is reluctant to share his home. "I should know who they are before they come, but the organizers (local neighborhood committees) have not come up with details."