Beijing 2022 has released a statement which demonstrates the growing opportunities that the Winter Olympics presents for non-rights holding broadcasters.
Firstly, live-streaming post-competition press conferences at Olympic venues on the web-based Info/myInfo official media information system can be significant for accredited media.
Furthermore, online chat tools will also be available on myInfo for remote questions from reporters during the press conferences, whilst there has also been access permitted to accredited press and non-rights-holding broadcasters to the press conferences on myInfo for on-demand viewing and download for delayed broadcast and exhibit.
Lucia Montanarella, IOC Associate Director of Olympic Games Media Operations, commented: “The International Olympic Committee places great importance on the work of the global media and its coverage of the Olympic Games.
“It is in our interest to foster coverage opportunities that result in the widest possible reach while still respecting our rights-holding partners, whose audiences and funding are paramount to the development of Olympic sports worldwide.”
It has also been reported that IOC/Beijing 2022 Daily Press Briefings will be downloadable from myInfo, whilst all the video footage provided via myInfo will ‘meet broadcast quality standards’.
Moreover, due to the impacts of COVID-19, a system has been defined to keep games participants and people in China safe, while allowing accredited participants to perform their day-to-day activities based on their roles.
This means that journalists accredited to the Olympic Games, whether based in China or not, will need to enter a closed-loop management system, and will be allowed to move only between the games’ official destinations (including venues, accommodation, etc.) and using dedicated transport systems.
“We have worked with the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee to identify the specific challenges to these Games, what we could do to address them, and where we could learn and evolve from Tokyo 2020 to provide a working environment that meets the needs of the accredited press and non-rights-holding media under the difficult circumstances caused by the pandemic,” Montanarella added.
Yesterday, the organisation also released its spectator policy which stated that tickets should not be sold anymore, but be part of an adapted programme that will invite groups of spectators to be present on site during the event.
This announcement also follows the release of a pandemic prevention and control policy principles which stated that no tickets would be sold to spectators from outside China’s mainland.
