City now a ‘global media hub’

FOR the first time in the World Cup’s history the tournament has its own purpose-built Host City Media Centre (HCMC) and it’s so vast it comes with its own shops, laundry service, gym and cinema screens.

Dominating the skyline in Msheireb, Downtown Doha, the vast building has capacity for the world’s press and broadcast media, and is open 24 hours a day.

Due to the unique fact the tournament is essentially being played in just one city it means Doha will this week become a global media hub. And as a result the world’s media are being catered for in a building which is almost a city in itself.

A press conference room, studios, hot desks, IT support, photographer services, a media lounge and restaurant come as standard.

But the Doha HCMC also has table football, its own McDonald’s, a convenience store, a gym and five-aside football facilities.

In its two cinema rooms, press can watch World Cup games on big screens, meaning they don’t technically have to even go to the stadiums to write their match reports.

The centre’s hall for press conferences can accommodate more than 140 journalists but press conferences will also be transmitted live to journalists.

There are four studios and one huge broadcast studio available to book.

Some 300 hot desks are available to media on a first-come, first-served basis, with even maintenance and repair services available for photographers if kit is broken or damaged during the month.

There are service desks where reporters can request travel arrangements, numerous food outlets and dedicated computers for journalists to print out their matchday tickets.

Reporters have access to dedicated bus services around the city that take them from their hotels to the media centre and then to the stadiums for games.

And there is a multi-storey car park on site, as well as un underpass for the city’s metro system.