Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled London Media Centre, which will be open to non-accredited and accredited journalists, who are set to total an estimated 50,000, during the Games, which are due to open on July 27, 2012.

At each Olympiad the National Olympic Committees collectively accredit around 25,000 journalists and other representatives from international media organisations to cover the Games, giving them access to the Olympic Park Media Centre and International Broadcast Centre. 

But  thousands more journalists, without accreditation, will also descend on the capital to report on the Games and celebrations in London during this historic period.

The Centre will have workspaces for over 250 journalists, with press conference facilities to sit 200 members of media.

It will be a fully serviced 24-hour media centre with live broadcasting areas, additional office space for photographers and in-house dining facilities.

Johnson, said: "London has the best and most diverse leisure and cultural offering of any city in the world.

"Whether it is relaxing in one of our famous parks or squares or experiencing London’s unrivalled nightlife all our guests in 2012, be they spectators, athletes, media or organisers, will be truly spoilt for choice.

"Journalists joining us for these historic days in the summer of 2012 are now guaranteed a central working base in the heart of all the action.

"A stone’s throw from the London Media Centre lie some of the capital’s most iconic shots and locations, ready to be beamed into homes across the globe.

"I look forward to welcoming our visitors in 2012 and joining with them for the biggest party London has ever seen."



One George Street is the headquarters of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and was built between 1910 and 1913 as the result of an architectural competition won by James Miller,

The Great Hall there witnessed the landmark event of the 1945 signing of the charter establishing UNESCO.

It is also regularly used as a set for films and television series, including Bridget Jones - Edge of Reason, Ghandi and Mr Bean.

Sebastian Coe, London 2012 chairman, said: "In the summer of 2012, the focus of the world will be on London. 

"As well as thousands of athletes, thousands more media will be in London and will be telling our story globally. 

"Ensuring they are well looked after and have all the information they need about the Games, about London and about the UK as a whole will be vital to how they work and how London and the Games is reported."
 
Christopher Wyld, Director of the Foreign Press Association, said: "The Foreign Press Association in London looks forward to working closely with the Mayor and Visit London to make sure that visiting journalists get every opportunity to see what a diverse and exciting city London is before, during and after the 2012 Games.

"London is one of the great media hubs of the world and the central location of the London Media Centre will provide yet another opportunity to welcome foreign journalists to the United Kingdom and help them gain access to the people they want to meet and the places they want to see."

To help all visitors, including journalists, to travel smoothly around the city up to 8,000 London Ambassadors will be located at key points across the city providing information, assistance and a warm smile to everybody needing help and support during their stay for the Games, Johnson promised.

These volunteers will be in addition to the 70,000 Games Makers that London 2012 organisers will be recruiting to help at Games venues.

Visit London’s chief executive Sally Chatterjee said: "Worldwide media coverage is perhaps the single biggest opportunity for promoting the city in 2012.

"And there will be as many fantastic stories to tell outside the sporting venues as there are inside.

"The eyes of the world will be upon us throughout the whole of the Olympic year and it’s the world’s media who will be telling that story.

"It’s vital that we work closely with journalists, make them as welcome as we possibly can and provide them with great news about the city."


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