The media services provided for the Beijing Paralympics will be every bit as good as those available at last month's Olympics, the Games' organizers said yesterday.

We're all ears: A blind couple listens to a radio yesterday in Huangshan, Anhui province. The city's disabled people's association and a local radio station got together to donate 350 radios to poor blind people so they can listen to programs about the Paralympics. [Shi Guangde/China Daily]

At the same time, they will take into account the specific requirements of disabled reporters, Sun Weijia, director of BOCOG's media operations department, said.

"It is unprecedented for a Paralympic Games to use the same media facilities and services as an Olympics," Sun said at the reopening of the Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcast Center (IBC), both of which were used at the Olympics.

"As well as providing high-quality media services, we have paid full consideration to the needs of disabled journalists working here during the Paralympics."

More than 6,300 journalists, 47 of them disabled, from 13 countries and regions have been accredited to cover the Games, which start on Saturday, Sun said.

In the period between the two Games, both the MPC and IBC were adapted to better suit the needs of disabled reporters, he said.

Both are completely wheelchair-friendly, for example, and teams of volunteers will be on hand to help as required, he said.

"Both venues have easy-access elevators, while in the main lobby and work areas of the MPC, there are four sets of Braille printers and special computer terminals for reporters with impaired sight," he said.

Also, the interview rooms at most Games venues are more spacious to ensure easy access for people in wheelchairs, while press tables and handrails have been adapted accordingly, Sun said.

Furthermore, all media shuttle buses offer easy access, while 10 specially adapted taxis are available by reservation.

"BOCOG can also provide one-on-one services for disabled journalists if required," he said.

(China Daily September 3, 2008)