(1) Official signals
BOCOG will offer official signals to media worldwide, following the practice in the previous Games. The details are as follows: on each relay day, BOCOG will provide a package of official TV signals, which will last about 15 minutes, and lists of shots in both Chinese and English (PAL mode, standard definition, 4:3, live audio). Both the signals and footages will be sent through satellite networks worldwide and be available for all the media. In addition, the official signals will be sent through the GVW of the APTN as well. Furthermore, the official pictures, press releases and audio signals of each relay day will be available on the torch relay official website for free download.
(2) Services for media coverage
1. Media services in relay cities
The organizers of torch relay in the relay cities will offer services for media coverage during the Beijing Olympic torch relay outside the mainland of China. The media from the mainland of China will form a media team traveling with the relay team. Thus, there is no arrangement of coverage for them. During the relay in the mainland of China, the organizing committees of each relay province, autonomous region and municipality will set their own torch relay media centers. At present, the preparation for setting up all the media centers is underway and their contacts will be released recently through the BOCOG official website. The media can report along the relay routes, at the collection points and handover points of torchbearers, and at the celebration sites. For further information, please contact the organizing committee in each relay city. The media vehicles in the relay team are of limit space. The need of the official signal production team will be accommodated first. The limited additional seats will be available for local media.
2. Press conferences
The relay cities will hold press conferences 2-3 days before the arrival of the flame. For the legs in the mainland of China, the press conference for each province will be held in the first relay city of this province. The press conference will brief on the relay organization and provide detailed information.
3. BOCOG official website
The Beijing Olympic torch relay official website will set up a dedicated webpage to release the street-level routes, press releases, audio, pictures and TV signals for the media's reference. The application by media out of the mainland of China for coverage on the relay in mainland of China was initiated on Jan 10 and ended on Jan 31. About 700 applications were received.
(3) Media services team
According to the principle that local community will take charge of the torch relay, the organizing committees in relay cities will organize all the events under the guidance of BOCOG. The events include services for media coverage. BOCOG also has its own media services team. Firstly, the advance media and communications team. It will arrive in each city in advance to attend the press conferences held by the local organizing committee 2-3 days before the arrival of the torch. The team will also work on related media and communications endeavors. Secondly, the media and communications group of the main operation team. In addition to the staff for the media and communications service, there will be the Beijing Olympic torch relay spokespersons, who will take charge of the media and communications for torch relay and receive interviews from media.
(China.org.cn March 19, 2008)
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