BEIJING, Nov. 29 -- In November, BOCOG launched the Press by Name accreditation process for the various National and Regional Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) accredited organizations, according to Yang Minghui, deputy director of BOCOG Accreditation Center.

    Yang said at a press conference Tuesday that BOCOG has begun distributing Press by Name application forms and Press by Name accreditation guides to the NOCs and accredited organizations. The deadline for the NOCs and accredited organizations to return the approved Press by Name accreditation application forms to BOCOG is Feb. 29, 2008.

    According to Olympic Charter regulations, holders of a valid Olympic (Paralympic) Identity and Accreditation Card (OIAC) can use the card in combination with a valid passport or travel document to enter and exit the host country. OIAC holders are permitted to remain in the host country to carry out their Olympic duties during the Games and for a period not exceeding one month both before and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    "In other words, the OIAC can be used as a temporary "visa," Yang said.
    The OIAC is a working credential for carrying out work duties during the Olympic and Paralympic Games; it's not a "free ticket," reminds Yang.

    The OIAC is neither a free pass nor a free ticket into the competitions, he added. Only those who have "reserved seating" authorization will be permitted inside the venues to watch the competitions.

    There will be an estimated 21,600 accredited written and photographic as well as broadcast press members during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. All press members must be nominated by IOC, an NOCs, or an International Sports Federations (IFs) in the accreditation process, according to Yang.

    Applications will not be accepted or processed from individual applicants.

    BOCOG has set up a media accreditation center dedicated to services for written and photographic press and the Rights Holding Broadcasters. It is in the Olympic Green central area, on the north side of the Main Press Center. The 350-sq-m building center will begin operating July 8, 2008 and will close its doors Sept. 17, 2008.

    For the six co-host cities, four accreditation centers will be set up in Hong Kong, one in Qingdao, and one for each city for the football preliminaries.

    Key dates:
    -- November 2007: start of Press by Name accreditation process; BOCOG distributes Press by Name application forms and guides
    -- February 29, 2008: Press by Name accreditation application deadline
    -- May 2008: BOCOG to produce and distribute the Olympic Identity and Accreditation Card (OIAC)
    -- July 8, 2008: Beijing Olympic Media Accreditation Center to begin operations
  (Source: BOCOG