APEC International Media Centre Opens for 1,500 of World's Media

One of the largest International Media Centres (IMC) ever built in the southern hemisphere has opened at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour for APEC Leaders Week 2-9 September.

The purpose-built 10,000 square metre media centre will welcome more than 1,500 international and domestic press, photographic, broadcast and online accredited media as they report the events of APEC in Sydney this week.

The media centre comprises an International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre over two halls including a press conference room which seats 260, a main press working area for 300 media, briefing rooms for 85, interview rooms, and private offices hired by media organisations.

APEC Australia 2007 spokesperson, Ms Anne Fulwood said APEC in Sydney, the most significant diplomatic event Australia has ever hosted, will attract intense media interest in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

"Comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to provide the best possible coverage of the event," Ms Fulwood said.

"The media centre was designed and built with proven models used during the Sydney Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and draws on a wealth of experience from other major events such as CHOGM, the Australian Tennis Open and 2003 Rugby World Cup.

"This will be one of the first times a major event in Australia has combined both the broadcast facilities and the press facilities under one roof, rather than being co-located across various venues.

"Media will have a one-stop facility to cover the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Sydney and broadcast the events as they unfold live," she said.

The IMC will operate for a minimum of 12 hours daily from 1 September until Sunday 9 September during APEC in Sydney and facilitate media coverage of the:

- Concluding Senior Officials Meeting (CSOM) [2-3 Sept]
- APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) [2-6 Sept]
- APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) [5-6 Sept]
- APEC Australia 2007TM Business Summit [6-7 Sept]
- ABAC Dialogue with Leaders [8 Sept]

Approximately 130 trained student volunteers, many bilingual, will also be on hand to assist in the IMC and benefit from practical work experience.