Asian Games media services bounding into final prep stage

The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), is pleased to announce that preparations for media services during the 16th Asian Games have entered the final preparatory stage.

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

According to Mr Ren Tianhua, Deputy Director of the Broadcasting & Media Services Department of the Guangzhou Asian GamesOrganising Committee (GAGOC), Games’ media service teams are ready to kick off the venuisation operation.

GAGOC holds a press conference on July 14.

“GAGOC is processing a large number of media accreditation applications, accommodation reservations and rate card applications for the media and has finalised the operation plans for media services,” said Mr Ren who added that: 3,795 application forms have been handed out to press organisations, including 3,274 journalists and photographers, 339 sport-specific journalists and photographers and 182 staff of non-right holding broadcasters.

The applicants include 3,101 journalists and photographers and 338 sport-specific journalists and photographers from 45 Asian countries and regions, while 174 application forms have been handed out to 15 press organisations in the USA, Germany, Hungary, etc.

It is estimated that 5,000 staff of 10 Rights Holding Broadcasters including China Central Television (CCTV) will be accredited.

Press accreditation cards of the Games will be posted in August.

In Games time, about 10,000 Chinese and overseas reporters are expected in cover the event in GuangZhou, 70 per cent of whom will be accommodated at the Media Village in the Asian Games Town.

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) will open on October 28, the Main Press Centre (MPC) will open on November 1 and the Media Village will open on October 30.

Logistic support for the media is going smoothly in terms of transport, catering and accommodation. Pubs and coffee bars will be available around the clock in the Main Media Centre and Media Village to cover the “irregular and lengthy work schedule of the media,” says Mr Ren.

GAGOC will provide a range of services for press organisations and reporters from overseas, such as buying insurance, paying taxes, interviewing Chinese athletes, opening temporary bank accounts, hiring temporary interview assistants and renting accommodations and work venues. The organisers will soon release an interview and service guidebook for international media.

Mr Ren also said that first-phase construction of the Main Press Centre at the Asian Games Town has been completed and that it is now under interior decorations. Decoration plans for journalist and photographer rooms have been finalised, which will present elements of the Guangzhou Asian Games and Lingnan culture in South China.

Journalists will have access to translating and interpreting services in Korean, Japanese, English, Arabic and Russian languages as well as 17 other services, including hairdressing, air ticketing, banking, postal service, internet cafés, massage and tea lounges