The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) unveiled the China House in Richmond, westeastern Vancouver on Thursday, one day before the Winter Games kicks off.

It has been the first hospitality center set up by the COC in history, aiming to create a relaxing place where athletes, coaches, team officials and the Chinese media can take a break from the high-pressure competition.

The China House will run till February 28th when the Vancouver Olympics concludes.

China is sending its largest delegation ever to the Games, with more than 180 members and 94 athletes to cover 10 sports.

The Vancouver Games will open on Friday (local time), which is the Chinese New Year Eve (Beijing time). And the Olympics will last 17 days, all the way through the Chinese Lunar New Year period.