[APD] Gospels to be specially printed for the Olympics 2008 in Beijing

[Christian B. Schäffler]

[APD] Gospels to be specially printed for the Olympics 2008 in Beijing

 

June 20, 2008

Adventist Press Service [APD]

Christian B. Schaeffler, 

Editor-in-chief 

Fax +41-61-261 61 18 

 <mailto:APD at stanet.ch> APD at stanet.ch

 <http://www.stanet.ch/APD> http://www.stanet.ch/APD

CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

 

 

Gospels to be specially printed for the Olympics 2008 in Beijing

 

Beijing/China. [APD]   Bibles and Scripture booklets will be available to
athletes in the Olympic village in Beijing and five other cities hosting
events this summer, despite rumours that Bibles would be banned at the
games. In a major breakthrough, Chinese authorities have given the go-ahead
for the printing and distribution of 50,000 booklets with the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in Chinese and English, 10,000 Chinese-English
Bibles and 30,000 Chinese-English New Testaments.

 

The Beijing Olympic organising committee has even, for the first time,
allowed its logo to be used free of charge on the Gospel portions. The
announcement follows controversy earlier this year over whether the Chinese
authorities would allow Bibles to be made available at the Olympics.

 

James Catford, Chief Executive of the UK Bible Society, said, ‘This is a
major and exciting opportunity. We are privileged to be able to support the
Church in China in the publishing of these Bibles and Scriptures during the
Beijing Olympics.’

 

In other developments 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. 

 

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