Chen Zhili, the mayor of the Olympic Village, usually makes her welcome speeches to National Olympic Committee delegations - held during the flag-raising ceremonies to mark they have moved in - only in English.

But on Wednesday, she tried something new.

As she welcomed the Chinese Taipei delegation, Chen said: "Welcome to Beijing", then immediately repeated the phrase in a perfect Minnan accent, the southern Fujian dialect spoken by most people from Taiwan province.

Her words were applauded by the 133-strong delegation that includes 80 athletes who will compete in 15 events.

Chen's gesture was indicative of the warmth the mainland is keen to show its guests from Taiwan.

Athletes from the Chinese Taipei delegation in the Olympic Village in Beijing.

On Tuesday, Wang Yi, head of the Taiwan affairs office, said Olympians from Taipei should consider Beijing as home turf, and can rest assured their compatriots will be cheering them on.

"People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are part of the same family," he was quoted as saying by the China News Service.

"The warmth people on the mainland feel for their Taiwan compatriots comes from the bottom of their hearts."

The Beijing Olympics comes at a time when cross-Straits relations are in a positive stage of improvement and development, Wang said.

Olympians from Chinese Taipei can also look forward to some great food, he said.

"The food here suits my taste," Wang Ming-hui, a 23- year-old rower from Taiwan, said.

"I like Beijing roast duck. At the last Olympics in 2004 in Athens, I didn't know what to eat."

While he was training in Shanghai from March to May, Wang said he and his teammates were offered tremendous support from mainland athletes.

Also, the lack of language or cultural barriers makes it easier for Taiwan athletes to feel at home, he said.

After the Games have finished, he said he hopes athletes from Taiwan and the mainland can continue to work together to share knowledge and expertise.

(China Daily August 8, 2008)