Media accreditation for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games going smoothly

In order to maintain a high level of services for the media, the International Olympic Committee maintains a strict quota. For the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the IOC has set a quota of 5,600 for written and photographic press -- the same as for Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000. The accreditation numbers for rights holders are defined within the rights holders' contracts, which are 4,000 for Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co, Ltd. (BOB) and 12,000 for Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHBs).

BOCOG will operate according to IOC's policies and procedures.

Two-stage accreditation process

A two-stage accreditation process has been adopted for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, namely the process of Press by Number accreditation and Press by Name accreditation.

From March 1, 2007 (G - 17 months), the two-stage press accreditation process began when BOCOG started the distribution of Press by Number forms and Press Accreditation Guides to NOCs and accredited organizations, together with the Press Accommodation Guide, Press Rate Card, Press Freight & Shipping Guide and Media Information. The deadline for NOCs to return the Press by Number forms to BOCOG was June 15, 2007.

From November 1, 2007 (G - 9 months), BOCOG will start the Press by Name process and distribute Press by Name application forms to NOCs and accredited organizations. The deadline for NOCs and accredited organizations to return the approved Press by Name accreditation application forms to BOCOG is February 29, 2008.

From May 2008, BOCOG Accreditation will start distributing Olympic Identity & Accreditation Cards (OIACs) to National Olympic Committees (NOCs), which distribute them to accredited press organizations. From July 8, 2008, OIAC will be accepted as a valid multiple visa into China including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

For the non-rights-holding broadcast organizations or ENRs, the IOC is directly responsible for the allocation of ENR accreditations. The ENR accreditation application process had been done within the period from March 1st to June 2007.

Latest progress

In accordance with IOC-allocated quotas to NOCs, BOCOG has distributed the Press by Number Forms with inclusion of QAF901 (Confirmation of Accreditation Form Receipt), QAF721 (Press Accreditation by Number for NOC-Summary) and QAF722 (Press Accreditation Application for Press Organization's Registration) to NOCs, together with Media Guide Kits.

At present, we have received Press by Number Forms from more than 100 NOCs, and we will go on doing this work, and make it going smoothly, so as to lay a solid foundation for the next Press by Name Accreditation Process.

Media accreditation for Paralympic Games

Through discussion with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), BOCOG decided to adopt a two-stage accreditation process for Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, namely the process of Press by Number accreditation and Press by Name accreditation. And the accreditation process will be officially launched on September 14, 2007.

For more details, please contact BOCOG Media Operations

Mr. Wei Yong

Tel: +8610 6669 2065, e-mail: weiyong@beijing2008.cn

Mr. Yang Fan

Tel: +8610 6669 2055, email: yangfan01@beijing2008.cn