Hangzhou, China, June 29, 2023: A massive local and overseas media turnout at the 2nd World Press Briefing (WPB) for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on June 28-29 was a telling indicator of the widespread interest in the regional sporting extravaganza which takes place from September 23 to October 8, 2023.
More than 80 news agencies, in China and internationally, totaling nearly 200 participants, and hundreds online from around the world attended the two-day World Press Briefing at the Hangzhou International Expo Centre. The 1st WPB was held in October 2021 when COVID constraints curtailed travel.
Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al-Musallam, in a written message, welcomed all participants to the 2nd WPB where it was announced that 12,000 media had been accredited to cover the Hangzhou showpiece in September. This number equals that of the athletes who will take part from the 45 National Olympic Committees.
Executive Secretary General of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee and Vice Mayor of Hangzhou, Chen Weiqiang, also addressed the participants at the opening ceremony of the 2nd WPB.
Others in attendance were senior officials from OCA and China’s national, provincial and municipal governments including Jeans Zhou Jian, OCA Director of Media and Broadcast Department, Mrs. Xu Jing, Deputy Director General of the Press and Publicity Department of the General Administration of Sport of China, and Mrs. Fan Qingyu, Deputy Chief of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee.
Media organisations and personnel who will be covering the Games were briefed on up-to-date preparations and readiness of the Hangzhou Asian Games, enabling them to get a better understanding of the services that will be provided by HAGOC for smoother coverage.
HAGOC revealed 12,000 athletes, 5,000 officials, 4,700 technical officials and 12,000 media will attend the Hangzhou spectacle. All competition and training venues have been completed. The Asian Games Village, which includes the Athletes Village, Technical Village and Media Village, was also ready.
The Organising Committee disclosed that 50,000 volunteers had been recruited and that sponsorship amounting to RMB 4.615 billion (US$65 million) and 178 sponsors had come on board.
The media was shown the layout of the Main Media Centre – the Main Press Centre and International Broadcasting Centre – at the Hangzhou International Expo Centre, and given an update on the services that will be provided such as transport, meals and accommodation, press information services among others. The Main Media Centre will open from September 18 to October 10. A media online service will be provided by HAGOC in English and Chinese.
The media was also taken on a tour of Asian Games venues including Hangzhou Binjiang Gymnasium, and various media facilities at competition venues.
