Gospels to be printed specially for Beijing Olympics

Bibles and Gospel booklets printed in China will be available to athletes in the Olympic village in Beijing this summer, despite rumours that Bibles would be banned at the games.

With the support of Bible Society, 50,000 booklets are being specially printed for the event, with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in Chinese and English. Ten thousand Chinese-English complete Bibles and 30,000 Chinese-English New Testaments will also be available.

The initiative, which follows controversy earlier this year over whether the Chinese authorities would allow Bibles to be made available at the Olympics, has the approval of the Beijing Olympic organising committee. For the first time, the committee is allowing its logo to be used free of charge on the Gospel booklets.

The decision was announced by Elder Fu Xianwei, Chairman of the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, at the opening of the new Amity Printing Press in Nanjing. The new printing press, which can turn out 12 million Bibles a year - one every second - will be printing the Scriptures to be made available during the Olympics.

James Catford, Chief Executive of Bible Society, said, "We are privileged to be able to support the Church in China in the publishing of these Bibles and Scriptures for the Beijing Olympics.

"This great sporting event presents a unique opportunity to make the life-changing message of the Bible available to thousands of athletes and visitors from all over China - and all over the world."

An estimated two million visitors and 16,000 athletes and officials are expected to descend on Beijing during the games, which kick off on 8 August.

Places of worship have been set up within the Olympic village to provide religious services to athletes. The Church in Beijing has been asked to provide people to staff the chapel and conduct worship services and prayers.

The Gospel booklets will be available in the chapel in Beijing, as well as in Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao, where sailing and football events are taking place.

To support the printing of Scriptures at the Olympics, visit www.biblesociety.org.uk/chinaolympics