World Broadcaster Meeting marks next milestone in sharing Beijing 2022 Games with the world

The World Broadcaster Meeting (WBM) for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games was held on 24 February 2020 in Madrid, Spain to discuss media coverage of the Beijing 2022 Games. The meeting, which was relocated to Madrid due to the COVID-19 outbreak, was at- tended by 172 people from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHB). Members of Beijing 2022 organsing com- mittee also participated in the event via online means from their headquarters in Shougang Park, Beijing.

"The meeting is extremely important not only for the Olympic movement but also for the entire sports community in the world. Beijing 2022's aim is to get the best possible stage for the Olympic Games. You are the most important part of the trans- mission of Olympic values. Without you the communication will be blocked," said Juan Ann Samaranch, IOC Vice President and President of the Beijing 2022 Coordi- nation Committee, emphasising the value of the WBM.

During the meeting, Beijing 2022 members gave comprehensive reports on matters related to venue and infrastructure construction, media operations, accommodation, transport and other key topics. The presentations were fol- lowed by a Q&A session addressing queries from RHBs regarding logistics, security, finance and more. OBS, as the host organization, in- formed attendees of the current broadcast and operation plans for the Beijing 2022 Games, in- cluding Olympic Channel news service, multi-channel distribution and digital content services.

Zhang Jiandong, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Executive Vice President of Beijing 2022, gave his thanks to WBM parties for their understanding in regards to the relocation of the meeting. "China has been taking effective measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus and won praises from WHO and many countries. We are confident that we have the capability to overcome the outbreak," he continued. "We will try our best to push forward the preparations for Beijing 2022 amid the fight against the virus and make sure the preparations are done in time and up to standard."

Mr. Zhang also said that all the competition venues for the Beijing 2022 Games would be com- pleted by the end of the year and that teams would be in place to prepare for test events. OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos echoed his confidence in Beijing 2022 that preparations were on track and that venue development, organizational structure and logistical actions were all being carried out.

OBS and Beijing 2022 attended separate events and meetings with RHBs to discuss further oper- ation details during 25-26 February 2020. With the Beijing 2022 Games now less than two years away, the WBM marks another important milestone along the journey towards the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

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