2000 reporters to cover Commonwealth Games

Around 800 international and 1200 domestic media personnel are expected to cover the Delhi Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in the capital from October 3 to 14.

As compared to 1562 Media accreditations for the Melbourne Games in 2006, around 2000 accreditations will be made for Delhi 2010.

The Main Press Centre (MPC) will be available for use from September 23 and can be accessed till September 30, daily between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m and will be open round-the-clock from October 1-15.

The MPC boasts 600 work stations for press and photo areas, with Wi-Fi and High-speed broadband at rate card, Games info service to access Games News Service and transport schedules.

The Venue Media Centres, that will open two hours prior to the event and close two hours after the event concludes, will also have work stations, high-speed Internet, press conference room, Media Lounge, info terminal for Games News Service, catering concession outlets and Mixed Zones.

Apart from this, the Games Village Media Centre will have an International Zone, which will allow access to accreditated pass-holding Media.

The Media Centre will have work areas, Media Lounge, Media Pass Desk, two press conference rooms, presentation studio and two interview rooms.

Also around 600 volunteers will assist the Media at all competition and non-competition venues.

There will be extensive transport arrangements for the Media, with T4 shuttles being made available. The Main Media Transport Mall will be located at ITPO, Complex, about 70 metres from MPC.

British Media accreditation and briefing

The media accreditation process is now open for English media representatives wishing to attend the Commonwealth Games in Delhi which takes place from October 3–14.

Commonwealth Games England (CGE) is the organisation responsible for accrediting English media for the Games. Contact# to ask queries about the process is 01225 443998.

Accreditation is an online system for the Commonwealth Games. The deadline for return of information and applying for the accreditation is 27-May.

Categories
You will also need to decide the category of media accreditation for which you wish to apply when you complete your form and return it. This is the field marked “function” on the form. The categories are:

E General writer/journalist needing access to several venues/sports
Es Sports specific journalist needing access to one sport only
EP General photographer needing access to several venues/sports
EPs Sport specific photographer, needing access to one sport
ENR Broadcast organisations who are not rights-holders.


Photographs
Each application must include a .jpeg photograph, the file to be less than 50kb. It needs to be a recent and true likeness, in colour, a head and shoulders shot only, showing full face, taken against a plain background, and with no hats, hair bands or dark glasses.

The file name for the photograph must be your name (given and family name) as per your application form.

Visas
Once accredited, you will be issued with a Non Valid Pass (NVP) which will be validated on arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Members of the international media will also have the option of validating their NVP at the Media Accreditation Centre. Those applying after our deadline of May 27 will not be issued with a NVP and will have to apply for an Indian visa through the Indian High Commission.

Media hotels, telecommunications, car hire, car parking etc
Delhi 2010 organisers have issued information on media accommodation options and these can be found with the booking form at http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/ under the Accommodation heading.
Also available is a Rate Card for the media which catalogues prices and availability of car hire, equipment, telecommunications, broadband, private office space in the Main Press Centre etc.

If you have not yet done so, it would be good to book your accommodation now. Rooms in the official media hotels are on the all-important Games transport loop and will go quickly. The Media Rate Card can be found on the Delhi website (click on Press Operations and proceed from there) and the deadline for orders is June 1.

Update
All media representatives who have accredited for India will get response by e-mail with further information in late June/early July and a further update in September.

Media briefing
CGE plans to hold a media briefing for journalists intending to make the trip to Delhi. This will be in the next six weeks in London.