The Beijing Health Safeguard Association is to offer free physical examinations for two immediate relatives of each Chinese Olympic athlete until the end of September.

Association head Han Xiaohong said all athletes from the 2008 Olympic team could apply for the service with their identification certificates.

The relatives could receive physical examinations at any of the 30 designated hospitals across the country.

The services include cancer prevention and bone density checks, costing about 1,400 yuan (US$206), and the total value could amount to more than 1 million yuan.

Han said the association would contact hospitals to double check abnormal results and offer follow-up expert consultations.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2008)