Beijing: A China-based Christian group has said it has printed 50 million Bibles meant mainly for believers in the mostly atheist nation.

Official statistics on Christianity in China show there are 16 million believers, whose numbers are expanding in the Communist nation which also has 18 theological schools, with about 1,800 students.

"Chinese government respects and protects religious freedom and supports, as always, printing and publishing Bibles in China", Ye Xiaowen, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs said at a ceremony, according to Xinhua news agency.

During the Beijing Olympics 2008, he said, local religious groups would provide help and service to overseas tourists, including Bible copies.

Olympic organisers had last month reacted angrily to reports that Bibles and other religious items for personal use would not be allowed at the Games.

A notice on the Beijing Olympics Web site explaining entry procedures had said, "each traveler is recommended to take no more than one Bible into China".

Religious services -- Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist -- will be available to athletes in the Olympic Village next summer, Zhanjun, director of the Beijing Olympics media centre had said.

China Foreign Ministry had also dismissed as "irresponsible rumours" reports that China would ban Bibles from the Olympic village during Olympics and said it respected and guaranteed the freedom of religion within the framework of its law.

Source : PTI