MPC to open on July 8

(BEIJING, July 7) -- The Main Press Centre (MPC) of the Beijing Olympic Games will formally begin operations on July 8. The facility will receive more than 20,000 registered reporters for the Olympic Games and on average, host more than 30 press conferences a day.

The hall on the first floor of the MPC is divided into various service areas. A shopping center, language service area, help desk, and lost and found space are just some of the services that may be found there

The second floor of the MPC belongs to the media from various countries. It serves as the command center for Olympic Games news.

The MPC photography workroom can hold 250 reporters, and offers all types of large lenses to reporters free of charge.

There are five press halls in the MPC, to be used to hold more than 500 press conferences during Games-time.

Also at the MPC, an office has been set up for the Beijing Olympic Games official website for the convenience of live broadcasting of news conferences organized by the BOCOG.