Beijing's weather authority launched a hotline Thursday to offer comprehensive meteorological information about the Olympics to the public.

By calling 68710008, people can consult weather conditions for Beijing and the six Olympic co-host cities for free. In Beijing an additional service covering weather for sports venues, traveling and traffic is also offered.

The hotline will run 14 hours a day from 7 a.m. during the Olympics and Paralympics and 12 hours on normal days until September 20, according to Ding Deping, an official with Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

Two toll hotlines, 12121 and 96221, set up some time ago will continue to offer weather services in Beijing.

For 24-hour reports, people can also log on to www.bjweather.cn or www.weather2008.cn, the official websites launched earlier this month, for meteorological information about the Games.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2008)