Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Main Press Center (MPC) (model effect)

   (BEIJING, March 20) -- The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) today officially issued a public invitation to tender for the design of the interior fitment and decoration of the Olympic Main Press Center (MPC) and auxiliary facility.

   The invitation is targeting Grade A design institutions specialized in engineering and decoration designs, and Grade A institutions specialized in light current designs. Those institutions which have the experience in designing MPC of large-scale sports games or relevant media working sites are particularly welcomed.

   Design proposals are required to embody the theme of "New Beijing, Great Olympics" and the concepts of Green Olympics, Hi-Tech Olympics, and People's Olympics. They should provide the journalists with highly efficient working conditions in line with the requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Besides, they should showcase the Chinese culture and feature human concerns, thus making MPC a convenient, comfortable and safe "home" to the press.

   The spheres of design include: functional areas in general and in detail, flow of people and space, environmental protection, indoor decoration, provisional Games-time ventilation, water supply and drainage, light current power supply system and others.

   The Olympic MPC is an auxiliary project of the National Conference Center located in Zone B of the Olympic Green, with an area of 59,888 square meters and a usable floor area of 47,640 square meters.

   To host up to 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers, MPC is not only the nerve center of Games-time operations, but also one of the longest operational and most important Olympic non-competition venues. During the Beijing Olympics, MPC will be operational on a 24-hour basis, rendering all-around assistance to the media from all over the world in the gathering, editing and dispatching of news and information, and in catering, accreditation, transport and communications.

   As a large-scale comprehensive press facility, MPC encompasses various entrances and dozens of functional areas such as main lobby, press workrooms, rental offices, press conference rooms, general store and pharmacy, food court and coffee bar, and venue management and operation areas. The IOC requests that the design of MPC's functional areas should rigidly meet the needs of press operations, taking into account the space relations among various facilities and seeking a reasonable layout and smooth flow.

   The deadline for the submission of design proposals is March 28, 2006. Further information can be found at www.bjinvest.gov.cn or www.chinabidding.com.cn.