Welcome, dear journalists! We are happy that you are interested in the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 and want to report on it. At the bottom of this page, you can accreditate!
An accreditation distinguishes you as our special visitor. It´s personalized and non-transferrable. As an accredited journalist, you will have access to all competitions, official cultural events, the press center in Cologne, and, where applicable*, to the opening ceremony.
There will be a daily press conference in the press center, so that your information will be up-to-date during your reports from Cologne. As an accredited journalist you will also be entitled to a ticket for buses and trams in Cologne, so that it will be easy for you to reach all the venues.
We will have a press center in Cologne-Muengersdorf. There you will find 60 % of the competitions in the immediate vicinity, so that it will be easy for you to work from there.
Accreditation for the press is free of charge. Please understand that we will only accredit journalists who can prove, during the process of accreditation that they work for a professional medium. Therefore we need you to present a valid press card or as an alternative a written confirmation letter of introduction from your editor-in-chief.
We are looking forward to your registration.
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* Only a limited number of journalists will be able to have access to our opening ceremony on July, 31 2010 in the RheinEnergieStadion, due to lack of available spaces. If you have applied for access during the process of accreditation, we will inform you by the end of May if we can comply with your request. Please refrain from contacting us ealier, as decisions won´t be made before May.
In the following you´ll find detailed information about the press centre and the accreditation
1.) Accreditation:
The Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 (operated by the "games cologne gGmbH") will be issuing an accreditation which enables journalists to free access to all sports and cultural events. Media representatives must register here. There is no cost for an accreditation. To obtain an accreditation, you must prove that you have a professional journalistic occupation. This can be done by uploading a copy of an international valid press card or a written confirmation of the editor-in-chief of your medium as part of your registration. The press card has to be valid at least till August 7, 2010. The accreditation is only to be used to fulfill journalistic duties during the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010.
1.1) Accreditation handing out
The accreditations will only be distributed after presentation of a valid ID with photo (passport, personal national ID) and a valid original press card or an original written confirmation of the editor-in-chief. The handing out takes place at the press centre of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 from July 30 until –August 7.:
NetCologne Stadium
Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 4
(formerly Carl-Diem-Weg)
50933 Koeln-Muengersdorf
Opening Times of the Press Center:
Friday 30.07.2010 | 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 31.07.2010 – Sat. 07.08.2010 | 9.00 p.m.- 7.00 p.m.
1.2) Accreditation ID
The accreditation ID enables press representatives to enter the press centre and all workstations available there. The ID must be worn visibly at all times. The ID may be checked at any time so be sure to carry a valid personal ID with photo. The accreditation grants free access to all sports and cultural events (exception see point 4) Access authorization to the opening ceremony of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 will be decided separately. In case of a positive decision regarding access to the opening ceremony, the accreditation ID will be marked accordingly.
1.3) Lost/ Forgery of an accreditation ID
In case of loss of the accreditation ID, the press staff of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 must be informed immediately. Anyone who fakes an accreditation or uses a fake accreditation ID is committing document forgery. The organizational team of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 reserves the right to report each case of forgery. In this and other cases of abuse, accreditation can be withdrawn at any time from the media representative.
2.) Press appointments
A multitude of press appointments are offered during the Gay Games VIII:
From July 31 until August 7, a press conference will be held on a daily basis at 10 am at the press centre. The ambassadors of the Gay Games will be invited to join the press conferences for the media representatives. In addition, during the Gay Games VIII, there will be a 5 pm press meeting for journalists at the press centre. These press conferences will point out upcoming highlights on the following day.
3.) Press centre
The press centre of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 will be installed at the:
NetCologne Stadium
Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 4
(formerly Carl-Diem-Weg)
50933 Koeln-Muengersdorf
The NetCologne Stadium is one of the most modern arenas in Germany. 50% of the Gay Games-competitions with nearly 60% of the participants will take place here.
Opening Times of the Press Center:
Friday 30.07.2010 | 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 31.07.2010 – Sat. 07.08.2010 | 9.00 p.m.- 7.00 p.m.
3.1) Access to the press centre
Access is granted to all media representatives who are in possession of a valid accreditation. The accreditation has to be presented at the entrance without being asked for and has to be worn visibly at all times.
3.2) Parking facilities
Due to lack of parking facilities and high traffic it is recommended to use public transport to reach the press centre (KVB-Station "Köln/RheinEnergieStadion")
3.3) Information
An information area will be provided for the media representatives at the press centre.
3.4) Technical equipment at the press centre
The press centre offers many workstations for the media representatives equipped with computer, printer, copier, and fax which can be used at no charge. It´s not possible to reserve a workspace in advance. Access to the internet will be available via wifi/wlan. The workstations also offer connection to the internet at the provided computers. The staff at the press centre cannot offer technical support for equipment brought in from the outside.
3.5) Hotel accommodation
In principle, all participants, visitors, and media representatives have to take provide their own accommodation. The official press hotel of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 offers rooms at a special price:
Radisson Blu Hotel Koeln
Messekreisel 3
50679 Koeln-Deutz
Single rooms are at 115 € / night / room incl. breakfast and internet access
Double rooms are at 140 € / night / room incl. breakfast and internet access
This offer is valid while the contingent of these rooms is available. A quick reservation is recommended. The special offer is only valid by booking via a special email address: Media-Hotel@games-cologne.de
These bookings will be between the guest and the hotel. The organizational team
Of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 cannot be held responsible for these bookings.
The Radisson Blu is situated right in front of the Cologne Trade Fair and in the neighborhood of the Lanxess Arena (venue of the after show party of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 on July 31). The hotel disposes 333 spacious and comfortable rooms, 52 business class rooms, 7 junior suites and 1 suite. Hotel guests have free access to the gym and the wellness area “Vitarium”. Free broadband access to the internet is also available at the hotel. For more information please click here.
4.) Exception for access authorization
4.1) Overbooking
In principle, all accredited journalists are granted free entry to all official sport and cultural events of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. At some events (especially at Fans & Friends events) the number is limited. The PR team of the Gay Games VIII asks for understanding that it will not be possible to grant access for everyone due to the high number of inquiries.
4.2) Opening ceremony
Only a limited number of media representatives will have access to the opening ceremony due to lack of available spaces. During the process of accreditation at www.games-cologne.de media representatives will be asked to express their interest in having access to the opening ceremony. The organizational team will decide about access in July 2010 and inform the media representatives accordingly.
4.3) Denied access in individual cases
The Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 stands for tolerance and equal rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender. In some countries, being homosexual is still punishable, making an event like the Gay Games VIII that much more important. To protect participants of these countries, the organizational team of the Gay Games VIII reserves the right to ban photography and deny access by media representatives to a few specific sport and cultural events. This will be decided at the end of July and announced thereafter.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Cologne! Just register here!
