Athletes and officials of all faith can pray in the Olympic Village, and many religious places and multi-language priests are geared up to provide a serene religious atmosphere to visitors in Beijing.

     A multi-faith center with 66 religious staff and volunteers opened in the village on Sunday where services of the world's major religions, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism, can be held.

     "It's an international practice to host religious services for athletes and officials," Liu Hongliang, an official with Beijing Christian Council, said Tuesday.

     "Meditation rooms have been built for athletes and officials who believe in other faiths too," he said.

      Wang Jungang, a Christian priest, said he would hold a mass every Sunday morning and offer counseling to athletes and officials.

     "If athletes feel nervous before a competition, I will try to calm them down," the English-speaking Wang said.

     Yin Guofang, of Beijing's Niujie Mosque and one of the 15 imams in the village, said: "Our main job will be to provide a place for athletes to read the Koran and pray when they cannot go to a mosque because of their schedule."

     The 100-sq-m hall for Muslims, who pray five times a day, will have separate enclosures for men and women. The Koran will be available free in the