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First class media facilities await
journalists at Beijing 2008
(William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent in Beijing, China)
Beijing, May 28, Ghanadot/GNA –
Sports journalists covering the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing, China will be provided with an opportunity to work
with first high class media facilities to be made available
by the organizers to ensure a successful event.
The Main Press Center (MPC) provided by the organizers to
support media work, would be in operation from the latter
parts of July till the close of both the Olympic and
Paralympic Games in September.
The MPC, which covers 62,000 square meters, is located to
the west of the Olympic Green, within a distance of the
Olympic Village, National Aquatic Center and the National
Stadium – all facilities meant for the Games.
The four-storey MPC which comes with a specific role for
each floor is connected by 30 escalators and elevators to
ensure convenient flow and was designed to meet the needs of
the media men.
Within the MPC complex are a three and five star hotels to
provide convenient accommodation for over 800 accredited
journalists and photographers.
The main press workroom has been fixed with three video
walls, 34” CATV monitors, 680 desktop pay phones, including
291 linked with five digit Olympic network and 500 lockers.
A suit of five press conference rooms has also been provided
with an 800 seater hall, which will provide simultaneous
interpretations in eight different languages during press
conferences as required.
Miss Danni Zheng, a member of the (BOCOG) at the Media
Center told the GNA Sports that the facilities are to enable
the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games (BOCOG),
International Olympic Committee (IOC), and other
international bodies to host press conferences during the
Games.
A visit by the GNA Sports revealed facilities such as the
Language Help Desk, News Desk, Paralympic Information
Office, Exhibition Hall, Marketing Communications Office,
Transport and Accommodation Desk, Express Parcel Services,
Flight and Travel Services Offices, Bank, Internet Café, and
Medical Center were all complete and functional.
The rest of the facilities include, Main Press Workroom,
Help Desk, Copy and Fax Center, Result Printing and
Distribution Center, Media Lounge, Library, Gym and
Hairdressing Saloon.
The MPC also has commercial outlets such as an ATM, News
stand, Café, General Store, Olympic Store, Dry Cleaning
Services, Fixed Telecommunication Service Center, Mobile
Telecommunication Customer Service Center, Mobile
Telecommunication Terminal Customer Service, high definition
TV signal display, Travel Agency, Kodak Express and
Pharmacy.
Provision has also been made for 145 international and
national news agencies, newspapers and magazines.
To facilitate broadcasting services, BOCOG also has in place
an International Broadcast Center (IBC) for Right Holding
Broadcasters with a usable space of 90, 000 square meters
adjacent to the National Stadium.
The IBC would contain studios and production facilities for
Beijing Olympic Broadcasting and the center is expected to
open a month before the Games.
It is estimated that 10,000 participants will operate 24hrs
service at the IBC.
A 24 hour international food services would also be provided
at the MPC.
GNA
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