http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2007-06-28 MAIGOC
The Media Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) gathered in Macau for the first time on 27th June during the period of 2nd Asian Indoor Games (2AIG) Chef-de-Mission Meeting. The meeting was presided over by OCA Media Committee Chairman Manuel Silvério, with the presence of OCA Director General and Technical Director Husain Al Musallam and other members of the Media Committee. The floor has analyzed and discussed OCA future development in the area of media relations, which will contribute to an overall proposal to be presented in the Executive Board Meeting in Macau in October. The Macau 2nd Asian Indoor Games Organising Committee (MAIGOC) representatives also participated in this meeting to introduce the detail arrangements of media services and broadcasting for the Games.
As the Standing Committee of OCA responsible to manage and disseminate news release to the media, members of the new Media Committee listened to presentations on OCA’s vision of media services development, OCA medical and doping control procedures and regulations, OCA commercial program as well as 2AIG media and broadcasting arrangements. OCA Director General and Technical Director Husain Al Musallam expressed, through the research of the Media Committee in sketching the future approach and layout of their work, it is hoped that the communication between OCA and the media can be strengthened, while reinforcing the mechanism of news release. He added, “Within these four years term of office, there will be at least 7 mutlisports events to be held under the OCA, therefore the Media Committee will be working with the various organizing committees in developing and perfect administrative system to aid the provision of broadcasting and media services for all the upcoming games.” The Director General further revealed that in order to make the task more systematic and consistent, the Media Committee can be the administrative unit of media services for all the future Asian games. Added to the meeting, Husain Al Musallam updated the participants that Patrick Furlong has recently joined the OCA as the Broadcasting Advisor. Patrick Furlong was Director of Broadcast and Media Services for the Doha Asian Games in 2006, and he will work with the Media Committee to outline general plans for broadcasting services of future Asian Games.
In the meeting, OCA Manager for Anti Doping Mahmoud Ali introduced to all Media Committee members the procedure of doping control during the Games and pointed out that in the usual procedure, two samples will be collected for examination and analysis before the Commission can decide whether an athlete has drug-induced pseudo-positive response or not. The matter is the imperfect design of the news release system in certain past events had led to unnecessary misunderstandings since it was discovered that some testing results were uncovered before the result of the second sample was released. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain a suitable timing in the releasing of news, to avoid confusion of the media on the various situations that may occur.
Moreover, to ensure that the Media Committee will comply with the OCA in safeguarding the marketing program, and to provide the best service to its official partners, Donna Furlong, Head of Sponsorship of OCA appointed Marketing Agent PromoSeven, introduced the marketing work related to media activities, showing them the protection and regulation of sponsors trademark/logo display.
MAIGOC Manager of Media Services and Broadcasting Candida Ramos updated the participants with the preparations in the relevant area of work for the 2AIG to be held this coming October. The Main Press Centre will be located in The Venetian Macau Resort Hotel, and media can enjoy free catering here as well as in the three canteens of the Games. MAIGOC will also provide free shuttle services as in the previous Games.
This is the first meeting of the Media Committee after the members’ appointment at the 50th OCA Executive Board Meeting in Almaty of Kazakhstan last month. Committee Chairman Manuel Silvério indicated that the next meeting will be hosted in Macau during the 2nd Asian Indoor Games between 26th October and 3rd November, during which the OCA Executive Board Meeting and General Assembly will also be held. In the meantime, the Media Committee has planned to keep in touch for the exchange of ideas in order to outline the various plans of the Committee, to present it in the OCA Executive Boarding Meeting for further discussion.
