Head of Delegation Manual - Special Olympics

SOWSG ATHENS 2011 HOD Manual – 2 nd edition
12.1 Main Media Centre (MMC)
Chapter 12: Media Operations
MMC is the most sophisticated, non-competition media facility created for any major
sporting or news event. A key non-competition venue in its own right, the Main
Media Center will be established within the Olympic Stadium in the Athens Olympic
Sports Complex (located at Marousi, northeast Athens), the heart of the XXVIII
Olympic Games of Athens 2004, as well as one of the main Competition Venues.
During the Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011, the Main Media
Center will be the headquarters of approximately 750 written and photographic
media, broadcasters and the Host Broadcaster, namely the Hellenic Broadcasting
Corporation, ERT S.A. The Main Media Center will open its doors on June 20 th , a week
prior to the Opening Ceremony, and will remain in operation until July 6 th , two days
after the Closing Ceremony. The Main Media Center will open from 7:30 to 23:00.
The Main Media Center will be also the nerve center of the entire Media Operations
at Games-time.
It is well known that the written, photographic and broadcast media is a demanding
client group, whose reporting of the Games can determine public perception of their
success or failure. Hence, the credentialed members of the media, working at the
Main Media center, become the ultimate arbiters of how well the SOWSG ATHENS
2011 are organized.
Covering a total area of 700 m 2 , the MMC support facilities and services will include a
Media Workroom with carefully planned workstations equipped with computers with
free Internet and Wi-Fi internet access, copy/printing/fax facilities and results
distribution points, located in viewing areas; a media Conference Area; a Photo Area;
a Break Area; as well as a Welcome Area to serve as help and information desk.
Dedicated parking spaces, located in direct proximity to the entrance of the Main
Media Workroom, will also be available to the media.
To enhance the holistic experience of the 2011 Games, daily interviews will be held in
the media Conference Area with well-known athletes, delegates, coaches, as well as
celebrities and dignitaries.
The News Services staff, responsible for the provision, circulation and distribution of
Games-time facts and data, will be hosted within this area to help the credentialed
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