Chefs de Mission Dossier

5.9 Press services and facilities5.9.1 Press Operations – provider of press services and facilitiesLOCOG’s Press Operations team is responsible for providing a full range of servicesto accredited written press, photographers and non-rights holding broadcasters toenable them to cover the Paralympic Games in an efficient and problem-freeenvironment.5.9.2 Timelines27 January 2012 Press by Number forms distributed to all NPCs17 February 2012Deadline for NPCs to return completed Press byNumber forms29 February 2012 Press by Name forms distributed to NPCs27 April 2012Deadline for NPCs to return completed Press byName formsJune 2012Pre-Valid Cards distributed to NPCs and IPCPrior to competitionPre-Valid Cards distributed by NPC/IPC to mediaorganisations18 August – 21 August 2012Main Press Centre closes for transition fromOlympic to Paralympic Games22 August 2012 Main Press Centre opens for Paralympic Games29 August – 9 September Main Press Centre 24-hour operations begin13 September 2012 Main Press Centre closes14 – 18 September 2012 Load out5.9.3 Press accreditationA total of 2,500 members of the press are expected to be accredited for the London2012 Paralympic Games, representing news organisations that have been selected byNPCs worldwide.Press accreditation occurs in two steps:Step 1 (Press byNumber) January –February 2012Each NPC designates the press organisationswithin its borders, according to criteriaspecified by the IPCDeadline:17 February2012London 2012 – NPC Chefs de Mission Dossier173