(ATR) Tokyo2020 says it is making wired and wireless internet connectivity free of charge for media covering the Olympics.
This applies to all competition venues, the MPC and the Athletes’ Village media center, Games organizers revealed at the World Press Briefing in the Japanese capital.
The technology infrastructure for the Olympics and Paralympics is called the ‘Press Network’.
Anthony Edgar, the IOC’s head of media operations, confirmed that the Press Network "will provide every press tabled tribune position, every primary photo position in venues, as well as the VMC and the MPC with cabled internet.
"This access to the Press Network will be provided by Tokyo 2020 free of charge for all accredited press, a first for the Olympic andParalympic Games."
He added that the new infrastructure would be supported by robustWi-Fi in all press areas in all venues, also free of charge.
The move by Tokyo 2020 will be warmly greeted byglobalnews outlets covering the Olympics,some ofwhom have voiced criticism about the cost ofinternetrate cards for the Games.
Edgar said there would be an additional level of infrastructure within the cabled network for the major news agencies – called Press Plus –utilizingmac address authentication of laptops, cameras and equipment which will replace the old agency VLAN.
This dedicated cabled network will be a paid service created in closecollaboration with the Tokyo 2020 technology department, their technology and telecom providers andthe main international news agencies AP, Reuters, AFP, Getty, Kyodo, Xinhua as well as USA Today, EPA, Sports Illustrated, YomiuriShimbun and AsahiShimbun.
Tokyo 2020 also announced a new remote interpretation initiative which will provide professional simultaneous interpretation for every press conference in competition venues and the MPC.
Press conferences will also now be streamed on the Games INFO system, so press will be able to watch the briefings on their laptop or phone from any venue, live or delayed.
In past Games only four sports –athletics, gymnastics, basketball and swimming – and the main conferences at the MPC had simultaneous interpretation, with all others having consecutive interpretation.
Reporters attending the World Press Briefing in Tokyo went on a comprehensive venue tour on Wednesday. It included stops at the Games facilities including theOlympic Village, Olympic Stadium (opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, football) and the sites of new sports on the program such as sport climbing and skateboarding.
On Thursday, reporters had the opportunity to visiteither theKasumigaseki Country Club, venue for golf at the 2020 Games or, some two hours away, the track cycling venue and mountain bike course inIzu. There was also access provided toTsurigasaki Beach, venue for surfing’s Olympic debut in two years’ time.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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