Media Watch: PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics

(ATR) A larger than normal number of accredited photographers covered the PyeongChang Winter Games, according to the IOC.

There were 791 photographers among the total of 2,710 accredited press members in South Korea last month. Anthony Edgar, IOC head of media operations, tells Around the Rings that there are normally 500 to 600 photographers for a Winter Games.

There were 10,898 validated accreditations for the broadcasters, divided between the 4,077 for Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and the 6,821 for rights-holding broadcasters (RHBs).

The total number of accredited media was about the same as in previous Winter Games.

A statistic that has not changed in the last 20 years is the gender representation among the media, with women remaining a significant minority.

Eighty-one percent of the accredited press were male while the numbers for the broadcasters were at 75 percent male.

Edgar says this is an area that the IOC needs to work on.

IPC Expects Record TV and Social Media Audience for PyeongChang

The International Paralympic Committee says more than 810 domestic and international media have been accredited for PyeongChang 2018, a 23 percent increase from Sochi 2014.

In addition to the larger media presence in PyeongChang, the IPC is also expecting a record-breaking audience for the event on international TV and social media.

"With just three days to go until the Games begin, we have more broadcasters than ever before set to cover the Winter Paralympics which shows the growing global interest in Para sport," Alexis Schaefer, the IPC’s Commercial and Marketing Director, said in a statement.

"What is greatly encouraging is that not only do we have more broadcasters but many of them are also dedicating more airtime across all platforms than previous Games editions. Through traditional linear and online coverage, we are confident that we will see an increase in the international audience enjoying the Games outside of the host country."

So far a record 47 rights-holding broadcasters have agreed to show the Games, covering at least 100 territories. The IPC says it is confident the cumulative international audience outside of the host market will exceed the record 1.4 billion that watched the Sochi 2014 Paralympics outside of Russia.

The IPC, through its partnership with the Olympic Channel, will also broadcast more than 280 hours of live coverage via www.paralympic.org, covering all six Para winter sports. Daily highlights packages for all sports will be produced for social media while all sessions, matches and races will be made available as video on demand on YouTube.

The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games begin on March 9 and run until March 18.

Written by Gerard Farek

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