ago.12.2006
Beijing's first World Press Briefing - 25-29 September 2006 Beijing will host its first World Press Briefing for the 2008 Olympic Games this summer, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announced in May at the 6th Coordination Commission.
This is the first time an open invitation has been extended to the world's press to visit Beijing to review the Olympic progress and, in particular, the preparations China is making to host the 21,600 accredited media who will cover the Games. Over 100 attendees from around the world are expected to attend representing many of the major news and photo agencies, newspapers as well as some National Olympic Committees and International Federation representatives. They will join select members of the China's domestic media at the briefing.
"It will give attendees a comprehensive review of the facilities and services that will be available for the accredited media during the Olympic Games so that they can effectively start to plan and budget their Games-time coverage and logistics," said BOCOG executive vice-president Jiang Xiaoyu at the press conference.
The Briefing is designed to provide international news organisations with the ability to review first hand the preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The five day Briefing will comprise of venue tours, inspections of accommodation facilities and a one day briefing which will include reports from BOCOG departments on the sports, competition schedule and planned facilities and services designed for the media at the Main Press Centre and venues, as well as media accommodation, transport, accreditation, rate card, technology, photo and news services.
Attendees will also have the additional opportunity to attend city and urban tours of historical sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace and Hutong districts for unique photo opportunities and a taste of the country's distinctive history and culture.
Unilateral meetings with the accommodation department will be available as well as one day photographer's briefing. The Briefing will be held at the Swissotel, where BOCOG has negotiated a special Olympic rate for attendees.