Media

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to Szeged. We believe we are going to share a few wonderful days in one of the most beautiful cities of Hungary.

We cannot guarantee that the Hungarian national team will be courteous hosts during the finals. We however will do our utmost so that journalists reporting from the World Championships will return home content and full of fond memories of Szeged.

This Media Guide has been prepared so that you can find your way around in the whirlwind of the Championships. Should you feel however that any of your questions were not answered please let us know via email or by telephone.

Press Office of the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships by MOL:

Email: press@szeged2011.com

Mobile tel.: +36 20 9722 098

Balázs Németh Press Chief

Péter Dávid Balogh, Head of Communications

Media Guide

I. Important Dates

10 August	20.00 hours	End of Accreditation Period
14 August	09.00 hours	Accreditation Centre Opens
15 August	11.00 hours	Kolonics Exhibition Opens (EDF-Démász Headquarters, Szeged, Klauzál tér 9.)
16 August	14.00 hours	Press Event: Introduction of the Hungarian national team (Szeged, Hotel Forrás)
17 August	13.00 hours	Press Centre Opens
17 August	13.30 hours	International Press Conference at the Maty-er Regatta Course
17 August	15.00 hours	First race of the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships by MOL starts
17 August	20.30 hours	Opening Ceremony (Dóm Square, Szeged)
21 August	14.00 hours	International Press Conference at Press Centre

II. Accreditation

1. Accreditation Passes Pick-Up:

Each journalist will receive a notification of approved accreditation application from the Press Office of the World Championships. Passes may be picked up at two locations: on Road #5 towards Röszke approximately 300m beyond the turn-off to the regatta course on the left (at the Flower Market, P7) (recommended to those arriving by car), the other is at the Szeged Ice Rink (easily accessible by tram from Dugonics Square in downtown Szeged). Shuttle buses plying the route between the official hotels and the venue also serve the Ice Rink.

Please note that everyone must pick up their accreditation passes at either of the pick-up points (Flower Market and Ice Rink) before leaving for the regatta course. Without your credentials you will not be allowed to enter the venue.

2. Validity

The press accreditation pass is valid only for the following areas: Press Centre, Mixed Zone, Stand C and the Sponsor Village/Fairground Area.

Entry into the flash-interview zone requires a separate authorisation.

3. Travel

Accredited journalists may travel free of charge on bus 40C serving downtown Szeged and the regatta course as well the shuttles serving the official hotels and the regatta course.

(Timetable of the shuttles)

4. Meals

You will receive your food and beverage vouchers at the Accreditation Centre that you may use at the Press Centre.

5. Opening Ceremony

Accredited journalists may attend the Opening Ceremony Wednesday night downtown Szeged (Open Air Theatre on Dóm Square) without a separate ticket but they must have their accreditation passes on them.

III. Directions

The National Olympic Watersports Centre is a few kilometres southwest of downtown Szeged. The regatta course is adjacent to Szeged Airport, highway No. 55 (Szeged-Baja) is on the north, and highway No. 5 (Szeged-Röszke) lies on its south.

1. Arrival by Car

The venue of the World Championships is best approached via highway M5. Take exit #173 (right before the Serbian border) towards Röszke and and upon reaching Road #5 in 200 meters turn towards Szeged. Accreditation passes can be picked up approximately 300m before the regatta course on the right on Road #5 at the Flower Market (indicated as P7).

2. Parking

Journalists may approach the designated parking lots from Road #5. (Szeged-Röszke) and may use parking lot P5 which is just within a few minutes' walking distance to the Press Centre. Parking passes may be picked up at the Accreditation Centre.

Parking passes may be picked up at the Accreditation Centre.

3. Arrival by Bus

We encourage accredited journalists to use the shuttle buses serving the official hotels and the regatta course free of charge with their passes.

Shuttles will enter the regatta course from Road #5. The Press Centre is within a few minutes' walking distance from the shuttle bus stop at the venue.

Journalists – just as the spectators – may also use bus 40C and the free bus service serving the Szeged Main Railway Station and the regatta course. Using this bus service, you would access the regatta course through the gates at the 1000m startline.

Please note that you may not access the regatta course as a journalist without a valid accreditation pass.

IV. Press Centre

1. Location

The Press Centre of the World Championships is located next to the Finish Tower on the ground floor of the main spectators' stand. Appropriate signage will be available at several points of the regatta course. Only accredited journalists may enter the Press Centre. Additional seating is provided on the first floor (above the Press Centre) and in the tent adjacent to the mixed zone.

2. Opening Hours

The Press Centre will open on 17 August at 12.00 noon. You can see the daily opening hours below:

August 17th (Wednesday)	12:00-18:00
August 18th (Thursday)	07:00-20:00
August 19th (Friday)	07:00-20:00
August 20th (Saturday)	07:00-20:00
August 21st (Sunday)	08:00-18:00

3. Meals

There will be a voucher system for sandwiches, soft drinks and coffee/tea served at the Press Centre. The vouchers can be collected at the Accreditation Centre.

4. Computers, Internet

Wireless internet (WLAN) will be provided free of charge for the journalists. The required vouchers may be picked up at the Press Centre.

Approximately 5-10 desktop computers will be available at the Press Centre with online access.

Closed circuit television broadcast may be viewed on the monitors set up in the Press Centre.

Media partners of the World Championships will have assigned desks available.

5. Smoking

The ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships by MOL is a smoke-free event, please refrain from smoking in general, and only smoke in the clearly marked areas.

V. Press Events, Interviews

1. International Press Conferences

We are going to have to international press events. One on opening day at 13.30 hours on 17 August and another one on Sunday, 21 August at 14.00 hours. We are expecting the President of the International Canoe Federation, the President of the Hungarian Canoe Federation and the Chair of the Organising Committee to attend.

2. Mix Zone

The mixed zone is set up between the Finish Tower and the Athletes’ Zone. Accredited journalists may access this zone and meet the athletes. Foreign journalists have to make their own arrangements for meeting the athletes and their coaches. The Press Office of the Hungarian Canoe Federation is in charge of the arrangements of the Hungarian national team.

3. Flash-interview Zone

The flash-interview zone right by the water is accessible only for rights holder television companies, the media partners of the World Championships, and any remaining slots are available only for the chosen foreign television crews. In addition to the accreditation passes, a special authorisation will be required that may be obtained through the Chief of Press.

4. Arranging an Interview in the Flash-interview Zone

Journalists in the flash-interview zone should notify the Press Centre staff in advance of the specific events which athlete they would like to interview (with lane number) after the event has ended. Members of the Organising Committee will notify the athletes to attend the interview zone.

5. Shooting in the Athletes’ Zone

No television company will be granted full and permanent access to the Athletes’ Zone. There is a possibility of filming in the Athletes’ Zone for short periods of time. The bibs granting access may be obtained through the Chief of Press.

VI. Photographers

1.Photo Opportunities

Accredited photographers may work at any areas where general press accreditation is valid: Press Centre, Mixed Zone, Stand C and the Sponsor Village/Fairground Area. In addition there are three special zones that require additional approval, and may be accessed only by wearing the official photographer bibs of the World Championships.

a)     Finish area restricted by cordons

b)     Photographing from motorboat

c)     Media pontoon and Athletes’ zone

2. Obtaining a bib

Bibs may be obtained from Mr. Péter Szalmás (Chief Photographer of the event) at the Press Centre.