The two-day 1st World Press Briefing (WPB) for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 was opened on 18 October 2021, in Hangzhou. The WPB is an important event that is always held in the lead up to major international sports event including the Olympic Games and the Asian Games. The briefing gives media organisations who are planning to attend the Games, information on the progress of preparations for Hangzhou 2022, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the services that will be provided to them by the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee (HAGOC) during the event.

The briefing, which was attended online and in person, was the largest-ever WPB held for an Asian Games. This is evidenced by the more than 400 participants from across the Asian Games spectrum, including the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA); Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC); National Olympic Committees across Asia including those of Japan, South Korea and Kuwait; over 110 representatives from international news services in Asia and local media organisations in China, including Xinhua News Agency, Associated Press (AP) and Agence France-Presse (AFP); and International and Asian Sports Federations (IFs and AFs) including Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) and the Asian Athletics Association (AAA). Also in attendance were representatives from the organising committees of the following Games: the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya  2026, 3rd Asian Youth Games Shantou 2021, 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2021, and the 31st FISU Summer World University Games Chengdu 2021.

At the Opening Ceremony, they were joined by senior officials from China’s national, provincial and municipal governments, major media organisations and key institutions, including Qi Xiaohu, member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee; Chen Weiqiang, Deputy Secretary General of HAGOC and Vice Mayor of Hangzhou; Du Dali, Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Public Opinion of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of xuexi.cn; Xu Jing, Deputy Director General of the Press and Publicity Department of the General Administration of Sport of China; Zhao Lei, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee; Bao Xuejun, Deputy Secretary General of HAGOC, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Head of the Sports Bureau of Zhejiang Province; Yao Guowen, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government; Mao Genhong, Deputy Secretary General and Director of the Executive Office of HAGOC and Deputy Secretary General of the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, and Jin Chenglong, Deputy Secretary General of HAGOC, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Head of the Hangzhou Sports Bureau.

Dr Husain Al-Musallam, Director General of the OCA, expressed his hope that through the WPB, media professionals would be able to receive all the information about Hangzhou 2022 that they need. He also said the OCA would work in close partnership with HAGOC to create the possible best working and living environment for all members of the media attending the event.

Mayor Chen began by extending a very warm welcome to those who attended. He stated that the first WPB for Hangzhou 2022 was an important event and an opportunity for HAGOC to present its preparations for Hangzhou 2022 to international and national sports organisations, as well as the global media.

At the event, HAGOC presented the design and preliminary layout for the Main Media Centre, the relevant policies on media accreditation, and press information services; as well as reported on the status of the Competition Schedule, venue construction and other key preparations. It also presented information on media arrivals & departures, transport, logistics, accommodation, catering, rate card services and more, to members of the media.

During the meeting, participants have also toured Asian Games venues including Gongshu Canal Asian Games Park, Huanglong Sports Centre, Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Centre (Main Stadium, Gymnasium and Aquatic Centre) and show accommodation in the Media Village. Information sessions were also held in tandem with the briefing including a symposium for media executives, talks with overseas media representatives and one-on-one meetings.

Under the guidance of the OCA, thanks to the strong support received from the central government and the public, and help received from Asia’s NOCs, preparations for Hangzhou 2022 have been on track to achieve the scheduled goals. We have stepped up efforts to complete the construction of venues and promotions for the Games, as are our city operations. We have achieved good results in our marketing efforts and the development of the Opening & Closing Ceremonies programme continues.

Company: The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee

Contact Person: Yufei Shen

Email: info@hangzhou2022.cn

Telephone: +86-85255221

City: Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Website:https://www.hangzhou2022.cn/