1.GENERAL INFORMATION
The third edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be held from 6 to 18 October 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Summer Youth Olympic Games are an elite international multi-sport event for the world's best young athletes between the ages of 15 and 18. Buenos Aires 2018 will be the first time that an Olympic event has had an equal number of male and female athletes. There will be 1,999 women and 1,999 men competing in the 32 sports.
The Games will truly be a celebration of sport throughout the city. Across four different parks and four standalone venues there will be: 286 competition sessions, 468 sports initiation sessions, cultural and educational activities for the general public and athletes, 241 medal events, 1,250 medals distributed and more than 500 hours of live competition broadcast.
The Summer Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 will offer the accredited media basic media facilities and a comfortable working environment at all venues.
The operations for the media are on a different scale from those found at the Olympic Games, and will offer a more interactive atmosphere for media representatives and athletes, with the focus on creating an easy and fun reporting environment in the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games.
There will be 30 competition venues and 23 non-competition venues:
2.ACCREDITATION
Media representatives wishing to cover the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires are required to complete the accreditation application on the IOC websiteby 24 May 2018.
To submit your request for accreditation, please click here.
The Youth Olympic Accreditation Card (YOAC) will allow you to cover all four events:
- IOC Executive Board meeting – 3 and 4 October 2018
- Olympism in Action Forum – 5 and 6 October 2018
- IOC Session – 8 and 9 October 2018
- 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games – 6 to 18 October 2018
The registration process for media accreditation is for rights-holding broadcasters, non-rights-holding broadcasters, written and photographic press, Young Reporters and press attachés of International Federations and National Olympic Committees.
For media representatives who have successfully applied for accreditation online before 24 May 2018, the Pre-Valid Card (PVC), together with a passport or other official travel document, will serve as an entry visa to Argentina. The PVC will be sent to you directly by the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (BAYOGOC).
The IOC will be able to process late requests, but media representatives will have to make their own arrangements to request their own visa after 24 May 2018. BAYOGOC will confirm the exact visa process and potential costs at a later stage. See point 3 for more information on visas.
Any questions regarding the application procedure should be referred to the IOC Media Relations Team at pressoffice@olympic.org. Please click here for the Media Accreditation Instructions.
3.VISAS AND IMMIGRATION
All accredited Summer Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 participants, except Argentinian citizens, must possess a special "24-H" entry visa to be able to enter the country and participate in the event.
The 24-H visa refers to article 24, part H, of the Argentinian immigrations law Nº 25.871 that applies to all foreigners who enter Argentina as transitory residents within the subcategory "special". For more details about the law, please refer to the Argentina Immigrations website.
For further information on entry visas for Argentina, we refer you to the Entry Visa Guide. Please click here to download it.
After 24 May, media representatives will have to make their own arrangements to request a visa. Individuals accredited after the deadline will need to collect their YOAC at the Media Accreditation Centre located next to the International Broadcast Centre (IBC).
Media Accreditation Centre next to the IBC opening hours:
10 September to 18 October 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
4.MEDIA ACCOMMODATION
BAYOGOC has selected hotels to accommodate media representatives during their stay for Buenos Aires 2018.
The bookings will be managed through an online Accommodation Booking System from 6 May to 6 August. After 6 August 2018, BAYOGOC cannot guarantee the availability of the accommodation options or the preferential room rates.
transport network. Media representatives staying at other hotels will have to make their own transport arrangements or walk to the designated media hotels.
5.TRANSPORT
All international accredited media will have access to arrivals and departure services upon presentation of their accreditation at the designated official ports of entry from 30 September to 22 October.
All media must fill in and return by 6 September a form provided by the BAYOGOC indicating their travel information (detailing their itineraries in/out, accommodation and baggage/equipment quantity). Otherwise, for those not able to provide this information in time, the service will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Peak days (2 to 6 October for arrivals and 17 to 22 October for departures) will have a 24-hour airport presence and transport services to and from the official hotels zone and the Youth Olympic Village (YOV).
Outside peak days, pre-planned services will be provided.
Official Ports of Entry:
Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) (also known as Ezeiza Airport)
Aeroparque Metropolitano Jorge Newbery (AEP) (also known as Aeroparque)
There will be no dedicated media transport network at the Youth Olympic Games. Instead, media will be able to use the Common Shuttle Service, which is open to all groups including athletes, the Olympic family, etc. Public transport will also be free of charge for all accredited clients between 30 September and 22 October. More details will be provided in the Media Guide, which will be available from August.
6.COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Please click here for the complete Competition Schedule for the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games. Please note that this schedule is still subject to change.
7.MEDIA FACILITIES
Main Press Centre (MPC)
The Main Press Centre (MPC) is located by the Mary Terán de Weiss Stadium at the Youth Olympic Park (YAP). The MPC is within walking distance of the Youth Olympic Village (YOV) and the Youth Olympic Centre (YOC).
The MPC will also offer additional services such as lockers, extended operating hours, a help desk and a media rest area. The Youth Olympic Village Transport Mall will be located 200 metres from the MPC and will provide transport connections to all venues.
The MPC will consist of 96 (extendable to 144) workstations fitted with power, and cabled and Wi-Fi internet access, which will be provided free of charge. Workplaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Only accredited media will have access to these facilities.
The MPC will offer a free-of-charge service of tea, coffee and water. In addition, a paid catering service for the media and other client groups will be available nearby.
There will be a Help Desk at the entrance, which will include the following:
- General assistance and local information
- Transport information
- Advice on filming in Buenos Aires
- Printed start lists, available upon request
The MPC will be managed by Laura Couto, from BAYOGOC.
Further information will be available in the Media Guide, which will be available electronically on https://www.buenosaires2018.com/en.
The MPC opening hours will be as follows (times subject to change):
- From 2 to 5 October 2018 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- On 6 October (Opening Ceremony) between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- From 7 to 18 October 2018 between 7 a.m. and midnight
- On 19 October 2018 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Media Conference Room – Main Press Centre
Media conferences will take place in the MPC in the hybrid media workroom/conference room. There will be no media conferences at the competition venues, where the focus will be on Mixed Zone interviews.
Media Working Rooms (MWR) at YOG Venues
All Parks and standalone venues will have a dedicated media workroom (MWR). These MWRs will also offer tea, coffee and water free of charge. Internet access via Wi-Fi and a limited number of cabled internet ports will be available in the MWRs.
MWRs will generally be open at the following times: on competition days, from one hour before the start of competition until two hours after its completion.
Mixed Zones at Venues
There will be Mixed Zone facilities at all sports venues for the media to conduct interviews with athletes, except for the Urban Park, where the "Parque de las Mujeres Argentinas" will have only one Mixed Zone facility for all sports venues.
Photo Positions and ENG Camera Positions at Venues
If members of the media require access to special facilities or areas within a venue, such as the field of play, supplementary access devices such as bibs will be required. These devices will be handed out by IOC Media Operations (for photographers) at the MPC and by the OBS Broadcast Venue Manager (for rights-holding broadcasters) at the live venues.
International Broadcast Centre (IBC)
The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) is located at La Rural Convention Centre in Palermo, in front of the Plaza Italia, which is 2.5km from the Green Park.
The IBC will serve as the centre for all broadcast-related operations.
A shuttle service will be the official transport that connects the venues and hotel zone to the IBC.
There will be a BAYOGOC Help Desk at the main entrance, which will include the following:
- General assistance and local information
- Transport information
The IBC will be managed by Thiago Schliemann, from BAYOGOC.
Please find below the operational schedule of the IBC (opening hours to be confirmed)
- IBC Opening: 2 October 2018
- End of YOG operations: 18 October 2018
- Bump-out starts on: 19 October 2018
Media Access to the Youth Olympic Village (YOV)
The media will have the opportunity to visit the venue during Games time. The date and time for this will be communicated at a later stage. Outside this opportunity, media will not be able to access the residential zone, unless invited by an NOC. Media will, however, be able to go to the YOV square and follow the Learn & Share activities with the athletes.
There will be a media workstation in the YOV Square operating from 2 to 20 October, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (except on 6 and 18 October when it will be closed due to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies). It will offer the same services as other media facilities, such as connectivity, power and tabled positions. In addition, this workstation will offer a dedicated space with a sofa and a backdrop for interviews.
IOC Offices
IOC Media Operations, IOC Media Relations and the IOC Young Reporters will be located in adjoining rooms at the MPC.
IOC Executive Board meeting and IOC Session
- IOC Executive Board meeting – 3 and 4 October 2018
- IOC Session – 8 and 9 October 2018
The meetings of the Executive Board and IOC Session will take place at the Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel.
Please note that the IOC Executive Board meeting is closed to the media. The proceedings of the IOC Session will be available via closed circuit TV at the MPC, IBC and in the media working room at the Hilton Hotel. In addition, ENG cameras and photographers will receive an armband to enter the room at the beginning of the EB meeting and during the IOC Session. The armbands will be distributed by the IOC Media Team at the MPC. A Mixed Zone will be organised.
8. OLYMPIC INFORMATION SERVICE (OIS)
The IOC will provide the Olympic Information Service (OIS), delivering a professional text and photographic sports editorial service of the competitions, the athletes, ceremonies and the Learn & Share programme of the Buenos Aires YOG.
The OIS coverage will include detailed sports reports on the competitions, and feature articles on the young and emerging athletes, and also on the different cultural and educational initiatives featured at the YOG.
The sports reports created by the OIS reporting team will be published on the official Buenos Aires website (https://www.buenosaires2018.com/en), which will be the primary platform for Buenos Aires YOG-related content during the Games. All OIS sport reports will be available licence-free for republishing and editorial distribution by the media, International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Federations (NFs). The OIS central editorial team can be contacted via email at OIS@olympic.org.
There will also be an OIS photo service which will include world-renowned Sports Illustrated photographers.
Images created by the OIS photo team will accompany OIS sports articles published on the Buenos Aires 2018 website.
All OIS images will be made available licence-free for editorial purposes on any platform for the media, IFs, NOCs, NFs and YOG athletes.
OIS photos will be available for viewing and download from www.oisphotos.com.
9.TELEVISION NEWS HIGHLIGHTS AND VIDEO NEWS RELEASES
The IOC will provide Video News Releases (VNRs) and television news highlights to broadcasters on a daily basis.
The Video News Releases will include the following content for all gold medallists of the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, and some silver and bronze medallists:
- action footage;
- interviews;
- medal ceremony.
Each video will be available for free download in both broadcast and web quality. A shot list including translations and a story script will be available for each release.
The content will be available on the IOC newsroom, and a link to each VNR will be pushed via email to the IOC Newsroom subscribers.
The Buenos Aires 2018 News Access Rules apply to these IOC products.
10. IOC KEY CONTACTS
IOC Media Relations:
Contacts: Bernardo Domingues, Michael Noyelle, Rachel Rominger
Phone: +41 21 621 6000
Email: pressoffice@olympic.org
IOC Media Operations:
Contact: Anthony Edgar
Phone: +41 79 615 1327
Email: anthony.edgar@olympic.org
Local Organising Committee, BAYOGOC:
Contact: Maximiliano Boso (Head of Press Operations)
Phone: +54 911 5121 0909
Email: maximiliano.boso@buenosaires2018.com
Olympic Broadcasting Services:
Contacts: Matt Mason, Nathalie Duchene
Phone: +34 91 839 7500
Email: OBSinfo@obs.tv
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 3.4 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.
For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.olympic.org.
Broadcast quality footage
The IOC Newsroom: http://iocnewsroom.com/
Videos
YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia
Photos
For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.
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Youth Olympic Games
For all the latest information on the Youth Olympic Games, past and upcoming summer and winter editions, check out the Youth Olympic Games website, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and watch us on YouTube.
