Beijing will honour its commitment and provide the news media with “quality and efficient services”, said BOCOG president Liu Qi Wednesday at the opening session of the 1st World Press Briefing for the Beijing 2008 Games.
Liu said that Chinese government authorities are making efforts to amend relevant laws, formulate special policies and simplify administrative approval procedures to guarantee good working conditions for foreign journalists during the Games.
Beijing 2008 organizers said journalists will be allowed to travel freely in China. Sun Weijia, Beijing 2008’s deputy director of communications, told reporters Wednesday, “with a visa, you can go everywhere you want and travel inside China. We have no restrictions on travel for accredited journalists.
About 22,000 journalists will be accredited for the 2008 Games, reportedly the biggest influx of overseas reporters to the country. Foreign media now face restrictions moving around China.
China said it will be easier for reporters to acquire multiple-entry visas for the period before the Games, while accredited journalists won’t need a visa during the Games.
Liu said detailed new regulations in the operation of foreign media would be put into place early in 2007. He said, “the latest legislation is going through the necessary procedures. These new rules will consider the norms of the past Games and the needs of the media”.
Media services head Li Jingbo said the Internet service provided to news services at the Games would be uncensored.
Organizers also told the briefing that foreign media would have access to the Chinese team, although journalists would have to apply three weeks in advance to interview local Olympians before the Games.
Foreign media organizations bring into China will be allowed to bring in equipment as temporary imports with tax exemptions, and temporary entry permission will be given to motor vehicles from overseas to cover the Games. Foreign journalists may apply for temporary driving permits.
During the Games foreign journalists may rent housing for accommodation or offices through real estate agencies.
A non-accredited media centre will be established to provide services to more than ten thousand non-accredited journalists.
Kevan Gosper, chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Press Commission, said that journalists and photographers will be happy with the living and working conditions at the Media Village.
Reporters called the National Stadium, now under construction, “magic”, and said the stadium and another major project, the National Aquatics Center are “especially impressive”.
Meanwhile the IOC and Beijing 2008 said Wednesday that schedules for the swimming and gymnastics finals are still uncertain.
A competition schedule provided by Beijing 2008 indicates that the swimming and gymnastics finals will be held in the morning, instead of at night as in previous Games.
Sun Weiyi, an official with BOCOG sports department said, “the day competition schedule is yet to be confirmed by the IOC.
U.S. rights holder NBC wants the change to allow it to air those events live in prime time while broadcasters in Australia and Asia have protested the change.
A final decision has been delayed.
Gilbert Felli, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, said official word is supposed to come from Beijing 2008 Executive Vice President Jian Xiaoyu in November in Kuwait.
