Hosting a high-level Olympic Games with distinguishing features is a solemn commitment China and Beijing have made to the international community. To help achieve that goal, the Chinese Government and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) attach great importance to the need to provide high quality services to the media.

Mr. Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, on behalf of the Chinese Government, has stressed and reiterated at the World Broadcaster Meeting and the World Press Briefing of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2006 that the Chinese Government will honour its commitments in the bid process, and the international contract obligations to host the Olympic Games to provide quality and convenient services to the media in accordance with international practice and the successful experience from previous Games, so as to satisfy the demands of the media covering the Olympic Games in China.

The purpose of this “Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period” (hereinafter referred to as the Guide) is to provide a concise interpretation and explanation to the foreign media of the laws and policies related to their coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and to provide handy information on policies and procedures.

The Beijing Olympic Games in the Guide refers to both the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and the XIII Paralymic Games. The Guide covers more than a dozen items of common concern to the accredited media for the Beijing Olympic Games (the rights-holding broadcasters, the accredited written and photographic press) and the non-accredited media, which include visa application, customs clearance, interviews throughout China, hiring Chinese citizens, accommodation rental, radio frequency coordination, temporary driving permits, tax, insurance etc.

This is a 24-hour service provided by the Beijing Olympic Media Centre representing BOCOG to coordinate the relevant departments of the Chinese Government in handling the requirements of the media in their news coverage and to assist them in going through administrative approval procedures as well as in solving other problems. To facilitate the search of relevant legal clauses and provisions, the Guide also provides web links for detailed information.

“Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists During the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period” (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”) are the regulations which are especially formulated on reporting activities in China by foreign journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period. The purpose of the Regulations is “to facilitate reporting activities carried out in accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of China and advance and promote the Olympic Spirit during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period”.

In accordance with the Regulations, foreign journalists with a valid visa or certificate may travel to places open to foreigners designated by the Chinese Government. To interview organizations or individuals in China, journalists need only to obtain their prior consent. Foreign journalists can carry out reporting activities not only on the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period, but also on politics, economy, society and culture of China.

A department is especially set up to assist in processing the entry visa application of foreign journalists. Foreign journalists holding valid Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards (OIAC) or Paralympic Identity and Accreditation Cards (PIAC), within the validity period of the card, are entitled to multiple entries into the territory of China with visa exemption, by presenting OIAC or PIAC, together with valid passorts or other travel documents.

Foreign journalists may bring, for their own use, a reasonable amount of reporting equipment into China duty free. Foreign journalists may, through organizations providing services to foreign nationals, hire Chinese citizens to assist them in their reporting activities. For reporting needs, foreign journalists may, on a temporary basis, bring in, install and use radio communication equipment and assistance will be provided in frequency coordination.

Furthermore, the Chinese Government’s efforts to improve the work environment for the foreign media are embodied in the specific policies to provide convenient services (please refer to Section II - XVIII of the Guide for details). The following are just a few examples:

1. Equipment that foreign media organizations bring into China for broadcasting and covering of the sports competitions will be allowed entry on a temporary basis duty free.

2. Temporary entry permission will be given to motor vehicles from overseas for covering the Beijing Olympic Games. Foreign journalists may apply for temporary driving permits through streamlined procedures.

3. During the Beijing Olympic Games, foreign journalists may rent apartments for accommodation or offices through registered real-estate agencies.

4. Foreign media may make applications and obtain approval through BOCOG for filming cultural relics. BOCOG will assist in going through the required administrative procedures.

Another point to note is that the terms “foreign media organizations” used in the Guide generally refers to media organizations all over the world, including foreign accredited media organizations for the Beijing Olympic Games – rights holding broadcasters, accredited written and photographic press. The term “foreign journalists” used in the Guide include the practitioners and employees of the media organizations all over the world, including those who obtain Olympic Identity Accreditation Cards for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad or Paralympic Identity Accredtition Cards for the XIII Paralympic Games in media category.

In compiling the Guide, we have highlighted the theme of each section and made it brief and concise so as to facilitate reading. Meanwhile, the lengthy legal clauses and provisions are attached or linked for reference. Taking into account the different focuses between the broadcasters (the Olympic rights-holding broadcasters in particular) and the written and photographic press of the foreign media organizations, the Guide has retained the detailed illustration of the content of each section and provided some guidelines in this “introduction” to those who have no time for the details.

In summary, the compilation and publication of this Guide has demonstrated the sincere wish of BOCOG to provide a convenient and friendly work environment for the foreign media to cover the Beijing Olympic Games. By providing quality services to the foreign media, BOCOG, ultimately, enable people all over the world to share through the media coverage, the glory and dream of the Olympic Games.

Media Operations Department, BOCOG

Download Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period

English version.. PDF format, 6MB, 171Pages. 

Download Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period

Chinese version. PDF edition, 70.8MB, 211Pages.

Visit Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period Download Page

PREFACE:
Liu Qi, President of BOCOG

The media have the purpose of getting people more up-to-date. Media and communications provide the common factors for human beings to be united and cohesive, so as to make the world a better place. In the modern Olympic Games, the media from all countries and regions of the world have played an important role in promoting and popularizing the Olympic ideal and spirit and truly reflecting the magnificence of the Olympic Games. In this way, the media have made an outstanding contribution to enable people all over the world to share the values of the Olympic Movement.

Beijing, China will host the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in August 2008. Since China is a developing country with an ancient civilization, the staging of the Olympic Games has attracted world-wide attention and provides a golden opportunity for the media to display their talents. The obligation to provide the best possible working and living conditions for the media and all Olympic participants is an important task for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), a solemn commitment by the Chinese Government and an integral part of staging a high-level Olympic Games with distinguishing features.

In his opening address to Sport Accord on 24 April 2007 Premier Wen Jiabao promised that in the spirit of "One World, One Dream", the government will provide services of an Olympic standard to athletes, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games. The freedom of foreign journalists in their news coverage will also be ensured.

With the strong support of the relevant Chinese government departments and professional institutions, BOCOG has produced Chinese and English versions of the “Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period” as well as “Service Guide for Hong Kong/Macao Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period” and “Service Guide for Taiwan Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period”, which sets out policies, procedures and basic information for more than a dozen service areas, such as entry and exit, accommodation, transport, communications, insurance etc. As well as assisting the media, the Guide also provides a new opportunity for people all over the world to have a better understanding of the Beijing Olympic Games, and Beijing and China as a whole.

As the Beijing Olympic Games approach, the government in China, at all levels, and BOCOG will follow Olympic practice and honour our commitments to provide high quality services to media organizations and journalists all over the world. We look forward to stronger interaction and cooperation between BOCOG and the media. Let’s join hands for the successful staging of the high-level Beijing Olympic Games.

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comments

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Add Comment