The Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee (BAGOC) held an opening ceremony for the athletes' village at 11:00 a.m. at the flag plaza, on Monday. Culture and Tourism Minister Kim Sung-jae, BAGOC Chairman Chung Soon-taek and Busan Mayor Ahn Sang-young were on hand to see the opening of the village and the hoisting of the flags of the 44 participating countries. A total of 9,900 athletes and officials will stay in the village until Oct. 17. The village can accommodate a maximum of 14,000 people in 20 apartment buildings. Among the facilities on offer is a 24-hour refectory that can sit up to 3,000 people at one time, a hospital, beauty salons, a Network Operations Center, nightclubs, and karaoke and video game rooms. Various cultural events will be held to promote Korean traditional culture including the Korean Traditional Culture Exhibition running through Oct. 14.