An official with the Media Operations Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games introduces the newly completed Main Press Center and International Broadcast Center to foreign journalists on Sunday, April 27, 2008. [Photo:jinghua.cn]

Preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games media operation went into the final phase, said the organizers in Beijing on Sunday when journalists were invited to visit their working place in north Beijing.

Sun Weijia, head of the Media Operation Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG), briefed over 150 journalist from all over the world who were showed around in the newly-finished Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcast Center (IBC).

"If you are accredited for the Games, these will be your houses, so welcome home," said Sun in an IBC press conference room. "The MPC and IBC are officially handed over to the BOCOG today when the BOCOG MPC and IBC venue operations team moves into the venue indicating that Beijing Olympics media service preparation is entering the final phase."

Some 21,600 accredited media are expected to cover the August 8-24 Games. As the media headquarters, MPC and IBC will open on July 8 before starting 24-hour operation on July 25.

"We have been planning for years for wonderful working conditions for the media. Now we have prepared wonderful facilities for the media," he said.

MPC and IBC are both housed in the newly-built National Convention Center inside the Olympic Green and within walking distance to the National Stadium nicknamed "Birds Nest", the National Aquatics Center dubbed the "Water Cube" and the National Indoor Stadium.

MPC covers an area of 63,000 square meters while IBC has a total area of 139,950 square meters, both the largest in Olympic history.

And for the first time in Olympic history, there are two media hotels that are located in the same complex of the MPC, which are meant to bring as much convenience as possible to the accredited media.

Sun said the BOCOG was also trying to provide some of the most advanced services to the media.

"The MPC provides not only wideband fixed telecommunication, but also wirless internet services. It will be the first time in Olympic history that wireless internet services are offered to the accredited media," he said.

"And there is wireless Info system too. In previous Games, all the Olympic Info content can only be consulted at fixed terminals but in Beijing you can access to the Info system in your tribune," he added.

Sun admitted that problems emerged during the Good Luck Beijing test event series and the media operation people are looking for solutions.

"We noticed that the VIP area and media tribune were wetted by the drizzle during the marathon event. We have taken into considerations the issues how we will improve in terms of planning," he said. It rained all day last Sunday when the 2008 International Marathon Race took place in Beijing.

"We are confident to provide good working conditions and hope the media enjoy working here," Sun said.