The biggest media village in Olympic Games history officially opened in northern Beijing on Friday morning.

Zhao Jinfang, Deputy Director of Olympic village (Paralympic Village) Operation Team, hosted a brief ceremony earlier in the morning at the gate of North Star Media Village, also known as the Green Homeland, to welcome the accredited journalists who will cover the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games.

"Despite the differences of colors, languages and nationalities between us, we share the fascination and joy of the Olympic Games with each other," said Zhao, who's also supervising the North Star which together with Huiyuan compose the two residential compounds of the media village for the Beijing Games.

Media delegates from Xinhua, Beijing Olympic Broadcasting company (BOB), National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and TVB from Hong Kong, China, representing the first bunch of accredited journalists who checked in North Star on Friday morning, received a special gift, a "Golden Key" craftwork at the brief ceremony.

The Keys carry the best wishes from the media village operating team of giving best services, striking up friendships and sending good wills, according to Zhao.

"All things here are big and new. It's fantabulous!" said one of the NBC staff named Susan, whose team was given a special pass to settle Thursday in North Star before it officially opened.

The other residential part of the media village, Huiyuan, also welcomed its first guest on Friday morning as a journalist from Xinhua checked in at 8:30 local time.

Volunteers provide service for reporters at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.


Reporters from all around the world check in at the reception of the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.

Reporters arrive at the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.

A reporter checks in at the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.

Volunteers provide service for reporters at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.

Volunteers stand at an entrance to the media village for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, July 25, 2008. The media center opens on Friday to journalists from all around the world.