Top Class Media Centre at Bahrain International Circuit
8/2/2005: The state of the art media centre at Bahrain International Circuit is one of the best in the world. The main building covers an area of more than 1500 square meters and is fully air conditioned.
On the Grand Prix weekend this building serves as the eyes and ears of the world as journalists and photographers from all corners of the globe gather to report on the race.
The centre can seat 500 people in the main area. This room has 260 TV screens to view the action on the track. It also contains 340 private lockers to store computers, cameras, phones, brief cases and other personnel items. Each seat and desk space is has its own telephone and internet connection and its own electrical power point.
There are five stand alone PCs with internet connection and 20 additional public telephones (5 of which have individual booths) and five fax machines. Individual telephones are arranged on request for media and ISDN lines, direct lines and data uplinks are also available. SIM cards for mobile phones are on sale at the reception desk. The centre has its own bank of photocopiers required to rapidly service the demands of the world’s press and is staffed during the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix by upwards of 50 people.
Photographers have their own separate section with seating for up to110. Again each place has its own power and telephone points to enable the modern day photographer to down load and send data images around the world. Twelve TV screens broadcast the race while the facility also has its own dedicated camera cleaning and hire service.
The circuit also has 36 operational air conditioned booths for radio and television commentators. These are located on the top level of the main grand stand over looking the starting grid from where the race is ?¢â‚¬?“called?¢â‚¬A? to TV stations all over the world.
