Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The success for the media operations of the Beijing Olympic Games comes from the world press' sense of ease when they work at the media hub, said organizers here on Tuesday.

    Sun Weijia, Director to the Media Operations Department of Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG), told Xinhua after the opening ceremony of the Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcast Center (IBC).

Journalists and visitors stand outside the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre (MPC) during its opening in Beijing, July 8, 2008. After three years of construction, the Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcasting Center (IBC) of the Beijing Olympic Games were inaugurated on Tuesday, kicking off the media service for the event, which is expected to draw 30,000 foreign media people.The Main Press Centre (MPC) is the central work place for the 5,600 accredited written and photographic press covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, providing 24-hour services and facilities, news and information. It's also the headquarters of BOCOG's Press Operations and will serve as the MPC for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "We hope the world press will feel acquainted with the media services in the MPC and IBC, which are the same with the Athens Games and Sydney Games. If they feel at home here, we will be very happy." he said.

    Though trying to make the media feel no strangeness in the media hub, the BOCOG brought unprecedented services and technologies of higher levels as a result of rapid development of net communication technology.

    "Wireless wide-band technology will be used during the Games. The service also will be linked with the Olympic INFO system to support download, facilitating news coverage," said Sun.

    MPC, together with IBC, provide 14-hour services and facilities, news and information since July 8 before the 24-hour operation starts on July 25.

Reporters pass by the main pressroom named Mei (literally plum blossom) at the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre during its opening in Beijing, July 8, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "MPC and IBC provide accredited press with easy access to the National Stadium and the National Aquatic Center. It only takes 10minutes to the Olympic Village and Main Media Village by bus," Sun said.

    Some 21,600 accredited media are expected to cover the August 8-24 Games. As the media headquarters, the MPC and IBC has hired a considerable number of foreign specialists in media operations.

    "About five percent of the 500 paid staff involved in media operations are foreigners, and some 10 percent of the 2,000 volunteers are foreigners too," said Sun.

    The MPC covers an area of 63,000 square meters and the IBC has a total area of 139,950 square meters, both the largest in the Olympic history.

    Sun admitted the excellent "hardware" was not enough for the success of the media operation as he paid more attention to "the software" of his team.

    "Just smiling all day is not the main work for the volunteers. We found some problems in the Olympic test events," he mentioned.

    "After retrained by our team, I believe the volunteers will bring more efficient service for all the media."

    The Beijing Olympics are expected to attract some four billion news audience across the globe. Sun believed that treating the media kindly equaled being good to the public.

    "The opening of MPC and IBC signaled the operating work of the Olympic Games has began."

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