China to open Olympic village in late July

    BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China will open the Olympic village on July 27, which would mark the start of operation of competitive events, vice mayor of Beijing Liu Jingmin said Wednesday.

    The village will be closed on Sept. 20 after the Paralympics concludes, putting an end to all sports events, said Liu, also executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

    Liu announced the timeline at a press conference during the annual session of China's top political advisory body.