Organizers reiterate commitment of quality media services

Beijing will honor its commitment and provide the world media with quality and efficient services during the 2008 Olympic Games, chief organizer reiterated here on Wednesday.

"The Chinese government, based on its commitment made in its Olympic bid, are formulating regulations regarding news coverage of foreign media during the Olympic Games in line with the Olympic practices, with an aim to facilitate their news coverage," Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Games (BOCOG), told the Olympic world press briefing.

"The regulations concerning foreign media's coverage in China during the 2008 Games will take effect in 2007 after going through legislative procedures," he added.

In addition to providing services to accredited journalists, Beijing will establish the non-accredited media center, providing quality services to over ten thousand non-accredited journalists and facilitating their work and living in the city, Liu said.

Foreign media will also be free to travel around China during the 2008 Games.

"We have no restrictions on travel for foreign journalists in China," said Sun Weijia, head of BOCOG's media operations department.

"So once they get the visas, they can travel anywhere in China."

The Olympic world press briefing, which will last until Thursday, offered attendees an opportunity to review first hand the preparations for the 2008 Games. More than 300 delegates from new agencies, newspapers and magazines around the globe, as well as National Olympic Committees and International Federation representatives attended the meeting.

Source: Xinhua