Beijing Olympic organizers have vowed to provide quality and convenient services to media covering the 2008 Games.
"Beijing will provide quality and convenient services to media in accordance with the international practice and the successful experience from previous Games," said Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee (BOCOG), at the World Broadcaster Briefing for the 2008 Olympics on Thursday.
Chinese government and BOCOG attach great importance to media services, a prerequisite for successful running of Olympic Games, said Liu.
"If our existing regulations and practice conflict with Olympic practice and our promise, we will make adaptions to conform with International Olympic Committee's requirements and satisfy the needs of the media," he said.
According to Liu, media personnel with accreditation cards are authorized to make multi-entries into China for a period of not exceeding one month before and after the Games. Equipment and supplies of the foreign media for the purpose of the Games will be allowed to enter China without any duties, provided that such equipment are either consumed during the Games time or exported within a reasonable time following the end of the Games.
"There will be no restriction on the export of the Olympic material filmed and produced by all media in China, but used for broadcast abroad. Broadcasters may film scenic beauty shots for background use for Olympic related programs," said Liu.
As for the hardware preparations, Liu said that construction has begun on the International Broadcasting Center and the Main Press Center and adequate hotel rooms have been reserved for foreign media.
Attending the World Broadcaster Briefing, which opened on Wednesday and will last through Friday, are delegates from eight of the Broadcasting Unions, Pools and some other major networks holding the Rights for 2008 Olympiad like National Broadcasting Company (NBC) of the United States, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and China Central Television.
Broadcaster representatives will hold bilateral meetings with BOCOG and BOB respectively about their specific concerns and requirements. To ensure smooth operation of Olympic broadcasting, the World Broadcaster Briefing will be held in Beijing annually before the 2008 Games.
(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2005)
