Guangzhou, China: The 14th Asian Sailing Championship at the 2010 Asian Games venue of Shanwei gave representatives of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee’s broadcasting and media services department the ideal opportunity to check out the plans for the November Asiad.

Set in the sprawling coastal complex of the Guangdong Ocean Sports Training Centre, the venue had ample buildings for a spacious press working room, photographers’ area and press conference hall.

The team of writers and editors for the official Asian Games news service will have a separate office, and the media services department will establish a “mixed zone” near the athletes’ boat yard where the press can interview the competitors on each race day.

The organisers will also provide four media boats for photographers and reporters to enable them to get closer to the action on the four race courses on a daily basis. Media must register in the press working room for a place on the media boats, and a golf buggy-style shuttle service will transport the media from the press room to the launching point for race officials, coaches and other service crew.

Asian Games organising committee GAGOC received expert advice on broadcasting and media services from consultants Zhou Jing -- Director of Press Division, Press and Publicity Department, General Administration of Sport, PR China, and Press Commission, Chinese Olympic Committee – and David Wang Bing, Communications and Media Operations Department, Sailing Committee (Qingdao) of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee.

David gave a talk on media services and training to the volunteers and staff at the Shanwei venue in order to provide a smooth and efficient service during the Asian Games from November 12-27, when 14 gold medals will be up for grabs in sailing.