Volunteers and mascots pose inside the Main Media Center for the Hangzhou Asian Games in Zhejiang Province, China, September 18, 2023. /CFP
The Main Media Center (MMC) for the 19th Asian Games has commenced its official operations in Hangzhou, poised to welcome over 10,000 media representatives from across the continent for the highly anticipated showpiece event scheduled for this weekend.
Positioned in close proximity to the main stadium of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, which serves as the venue for the Games' grand opening ceremony, the MMC unfolds across an extensive expanse of nearly 50,000 square meters. This generous area is thoughtfully divided into distinct sections, encompassing the Main Press Center (MPC) and the International Broadcast Center (IBC).
Within the confines of the MMC, media personnel are afforded access to a plethora of conveniences, including a medical station, a bookstore, and a post office, thereby guaranteeing expeditious and seamless services.
The public working room inside the Main Media Center for the Hangzhou Asian Games in Zhejiang Province, China, September 18, 2023. /CFP
Moreover, the MMC's lobby houses a cultural exhibition area that showcases various facets of Chinese artistry, such as traditional paintings and celadon. These exhibits encapsulate the unmistakable essence of both Chinese culture at large and the unique charm of the city of Hangzhou.
"The preparation works have been done perfectly and the organizer put in a huge amount of effort," observed Zhou Jian, the director of the Olympic Council of Asia's Media and Broadcast Department.
"We can see it from the competition schedule arrangement, the preparation of venues, as well as the set-up and adjustment of all the hardware and software facilities," he added.
Zhou conveyed his eager anticipation for the distinctive elements that Hangzhou will infuse into this particular edition of the Asian Games. "I'm looking forward to seeing how the Hangzhou Games will implement its ethos about Green, Smart, Economical and Ethical," he said.
A leisure space of the Main Media Center for the Hangzhou Asian Games in Zhejiang Province, China, September 18, 2023. /CFP
Zhou, in particular, has been thoroughly impressed by the innovative "Smart" concept, specifically emphasizing the Asian Games' official mobile application "Go Hangzhou."
"Just like the Asian Games' official cellphone app Go Hangzhou, it's quite useful and has a lot of functions inside. You can even use it as a Visa to enter China. It's welcomed by a lot of stakeholders," he beamed.
"That means you can save time, but still catch enough or even more information."