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Last update - 11:41 07/07/2008
China to distribute free Bibles during Olympic Games
By The Associated Press
Tags: bible, china, olympic games 

China will provide free copies of the Bible during the Olympic Games to athletes, spectators, tourists and anyone else who wants one.

About 10,000 bilingual copies of the Bible will be distributed in the Olympic Village, which houses athletes and media, according to Monday's China Daily, quoting Li Chunnong, general manager of the Nanjing-based Amity Printing Co., the country's largest publisher of Christian works. Another 30,000 copies of the New Testament will also be available during the games, he said.

According to earlier Olympic practices, the Bibles will be available mainly through churches or the Olympic Village. None will be provided in public hotels. Places of worship for other religions will also be available at the Olympic Village, said Chen Guangyan, head of the Islamic Association of China.
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Rev. Xu Xiaohong of the Shanghai-based China Christian Council in charge of publishing was quoted as saying 50,000 bilingual editions of the four Gospels were being shipped to the six cities hosting Olympic events.

The cover of the Gospels - the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - will sport an Olympics logo, he said.

"This is especially significant [because] as far as I know, this is the first time an Olympics logo will be used on a religious booklet," Xu was quoted as saying. "The Olympic spirit and the spirit of living a purpose-driven life that Christians believe in come together in the combination."

Last fall, China had to combat allegations of religious intolerance when false media reports surfaced that Bibles would be banned during the games. A U.S. senator called up the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. to demand an explanation.

Angry games' organizers flatly denied the reports. The Foreign Ministry said the inaccurate reports from a religious news agency and European media were started by people who wanted to sabotage the games.

Religious texts and items from major religious groups are allowed to be brought in for personal use by athletes and visitors. However, that does not extend to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which was banned by the communist government as an evil cult.

China faces routine criticism for its human rights violations and its repression of religious freedom. Religious practice is heavily regulated by the Communist Party, with worship allowed only in party-controlled churches, temples and mosques, while those gathering outside face harassment, arrest and terms in labor camps or prison.

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