Introduction:The Main Press Centre (MPC) is to facilitate the dissemination of news and photographs on the Kuala Lumpur 98 XVI Commonwealth Games in an efficient and speedy manner befitting its status as the world's second largest sporting event after the Olympics. It provides some 1,800 journalists, photographers and technicians from the print media (newspapers and news agencies) and non-rights holders of the broadcast media with a conducive and practical working and living area. Occupying four floors of the Mint Hotel, a 314-room hotel along the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway, the MPC is open round-the-clock for the duration of the Games. The MPC is managed by BERNAMA, the Malaysian National News Agency and the Host News Agency (HNA) for the Kuala Lumpur 98 Games.
Objectives:
The MPC is located about 1.5km from the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, the main venue for the Games from Sept 11-21. Bus shuttle services operated by Games organisers Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad link the MPC to the 22 competition venues in the Klang Valley. The MPC is also accessible by Light Rail Transit and KTM Commuter trains as LRT and KTM stations are located in its vicinity. Bus shuttle services are also available between media hotels in Kuala Lumpur and the MPC.
Facilities:
Key features of the MPC:
Results of the 15 sports contested in the Games, including shooting in the northern resort island of Langkawi, can be retrieved from MPC computers the moment they are released by the organisers on the Games' on-line system. News and data are also available at the push of a button on Info 98 the official Games information system provided by Sukom and Infolink and Newslink, BERNAMA's information system with Internet access. Sukom's Info 98, Infolink and Newslink form an integral part of the Games' information and data system. Information kiosks providing these services are placed at strategic locations in the MPC, supported by high-speed printers for printout requirements. Results and press releases are also available from pigeon holes in the main working area. Infolink and Newslink carry news reports filed by BERNAMA, with the former providing archival items.
News organisations:
Operations: The Secretariat is complemented by a security commander and medical officer and 400 liaison officers and support service staff. The MPC, which also manages the 23 sub-press centres in the Klang Valley and Langkawi, begins operations on Sept 1, 1998, 10 days before the opening ceremony for the Games. Please direct inquiries to:
Main Press Centre Secretariat |
