China has opened its doors to the world's media and is set to provide them with a "wonderful" Olympics, Panos Livadas, Greece's secretary-general of information, said on Thursday.
He was speaking after arriving in Beijing at the invitation of BOCOG Executive Vice-President Jiang Xiaoyu.
Livadas was responsible for media operations at the Athens Olympics four years ago, and is advising BOCOG on its preparations.
The Sichuan earthquake showed that foreign journalists could freely report what they wanted, he said.
"I saw the cameras, the microphones, the images and the stories, so access was clearly given to reporters," Livadas said.
Drawing on his experience as media director during the Athens Games, Livadas said BOCOG's media center operations will be instrumental in changing inaccurate stereotypes abroad and promoting the host country.
"Criticism before the Games is always part of the game," Livadas said.
"But afterward, every Olympics is wonderful and I'm sure the Beijing Olympics will be truly wonderful.
"The most important thing for journalists is information. If they are convinced the organizers are a reliable source, they will come to you," he said.
"I'm very happy to see that BOCOG has set up a media center for non-accredited journalists," he said, adding such reporters like to focus on the social and cultural aspects of the host nation.
Greece used the Olympics to re-brand itself, he said.
It used to be seen just as a tourist destination, but is now known for its strong economic growth and for being an energy hub.
The legacy of holding the Olympics was positive for Greece, and it will be a major opportunity for China to show the world the progress it has made, he said.
The Beijing International Media Center for non-accredited journalists opened on July 8, and more than 5,000 reporters, including 2,700 from abroad, have registered.
The Athens Olympics was the first to have a memorandum of understanding with the IOC on setting up a particular media center for non-accredited journalists, Livadas said.
(China Daily July 19, 2008)