Guangzhou has promised to provide substantial accommodations and catering services to the more than 14,000 athletes, technical officials and coaches during the 16th Asian Games, which will begin November 12.
"Catering services for the 16th Asian Games will focus on the requirements of specific target groups, food safety and quality of service, respecting varied and religious beliefs as well as showcasing the world-famed Cantonese cuisine of Southern China," the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) said in a press release.
More than 30 percent of the food served for the Games will be halal food and Games organizers have made significant efforts in studying characteristics of halal catering, including the supply of raw materials, design of menus, division of food service areas, renovation of halal kitchens and training of halal food service staff, GAGOC said.
GAGOC has chosen an international enterprise experienced in supplying food for international sporting events as the catering service provider for the main cafeteria in the Athletes' Village.
Additionally, GAGOC has appointed a joint team of a Chinese enterprise and an international catering enterprise as the catering service provider for the Media Village, Main Media Center, Technical Officials' Village and staff cafeteria, four Chinese enterprises as catering service providers for competition venues and seven Chinese enterprises as catering service providers for training venues.
GAGOC said they will set up five food service areas at the main cafeteria of the Athletes' Village, serving East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, European and Muslim foods as well as Western "fast food" respectively.
GAGOC has also appointed 20 service providers for 24 commercial and supporting projects in the Asian Games Town that will provide banking, postal, shopping, dry cleaning, hairdressing, cafe, Chinese language teaching and massage services
