Rio 2016 Olympic Games

The IOC has established a quota of “E” (press) accreditations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which will be distributed by National Olympic Committees (NOC) to press organisations in their country.

The total quota has been set at 5,800, the same figure that was set for Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Press accreditation for the Olympic Games is allocated only to media professionals.

Written and photographic press wishing to apply for accreditation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games should contact the National Olympic Committee in the country in which their organisation is based. Click here for the contact details of your NOC. The accreditation process for non rights holding radio/television organisations will be managed directly by the IOC.

The allocation of press accreditations within a country is the responsibility of the National Olympic Committees.  It is not the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee or the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

The press accreditation process for Rio 2016 will officially start in July 2014, 24 months prior to the start of the Games, when the IOC will officially notify all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of their press accreditation quota allocations.

IMPORTANT KEY DATES

Please see below the description for each press accreditation category:

Non- rights holding radio and television accreditations

The IOC will directly grant ENR accreditation to a limited number of radio and television organisations who do not own rights to broadcast the Olympic Games (herein referred to as non- rights holders).  Applications are available between 5 February and 1 April 2015.  Due to the limited number of accreditations available in this category, application deadlines will be strictly observed. 

The application process for non-rights holding radio and television organisations “ENRs” who wish to cover the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for news purposes is now closed. 

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications are available between 5 February and 1 April 2015.  Due to the limited number of accreditations available in this category, application deadlines will be strictly observed. 

ENR organisations have the full responsibility to apply to the IOC for accreditation within the required period.  Applications will close at midnight on 1 April 2015 and late requests will not be considered. 

A submitted application does not mean that the request itself was successful.  The IOC will notify all applicants (successful and unsuccessful) in May 2015. 

Successfully accredited ENR organisations will be sent a copy of the Television and Radio News Access Rules by the IOC together with an Undertaking.  ENR accreditation is conditional upon signed acceptance of the IOC’s News Access Rules. The ENR organisation must indicate their acceptance of and to act in conformity with the News Access Rules by signing and returning the Undertaking to the IOC (date to be confirmed).  Without the signed Undertaking, it will not be possible to validate your accreditation.

The Rio 2016 Organising Committee will send successfully accredited organizations, the Press by Name accreditation form on 5 November 2015. 

The Press by Name accreditation form has to be completed, with the names of the accredited persons nominated by the ENR organisation to cover the Games, and returned to Rio 2016 by 5 February 2016.   Rio 2016 will send Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards (OIAC) directly to ENR accredited organisations in May 2016.

NEWS ACCESS RULES

The broadcast of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to be held between 5- 21 August 2016, is subject to and protected by full IOC copyright. Only those organisations that have been granted the right by the IOC to broadcast the Olympic Games for a particular territory (“Rights Holders”) may do so.

To protect the exclusive rights of the Rights Holders, but to also respect the requirements of the Olympic Charter regarding the fullest coverage by the different media and the widest possible audience in the world for the Olympic Games, the IOC recognises the need for broadcast organisations who do not own the right to broadcast the Olympic Games (“Non-rights holders” / “ENR”) to have limited access to Olympic Material, for news purposes, in accordance with the IOC’s News Access Rules.  

These rules apply to all forms of broadcasting, including television (including free-to-air and Pay television, including digital channels, digital multi-channels and services such as “News Active” or “Sports Active”), Internet, Mobile Platform and other interactive media or electronic medium, and radio.

The IOC will directly grant “ENR” accreditation to a limited number of bona fide non-rights holders for this purpose. These accreditations give access to all Olympic venues but under specific conditions. Non-rights holders are strictly forbidden from taking professional video equipment into Olympic Venues or from filming, recording or broadcasting from within Olympic Venues, except as outlined in the News Access Rules.

The News Access Rules define the type and quantity of coverage a non-rights holder can broadcast for news purposes within its territory (3 x 2 x 3), which can only be broadcast in a regularly scheduled news programme.

Notwithstanding the above, accredited non-rights holders are permitted to take and use professional video equipment into the Main Press Centre (MPC) and may broadcast, via the Internet, all or portions of press conferences that take place in the MPC, without any territorial restrictions, provided that there is a delay of at least thirty minutes from the conclusion of the press conference.

ENR accreditations do not qualify for tickets for high demand events including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies

The IOC will strongly protect the exclusive broadcast rights of the Rights Holders. The accreditations of any organisation or person(s) accredited at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games may be withdrawn without notice, at the discretion of the IOC, for purposes of ensuring compliance with the News Access Rules.

The News Access Rules applicable for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games can be found here.  

If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact IOC Media Operations who directly manages the ENR accreditation process at media.operations@olympic.org

I am a Brazilian journalist/photographer. How do I apply for accreditation? 

Accreditation for media organisations based in Brazil is allocated by the Brazilian Olympic Committee and your organisation should contact them at cob@cob.org.br (www.cob.org.br) not the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

For all journalists working abroad for example in a bureau, but your organisation is based in another country, then accreditation must be requested by your head office from the NOC of the country in which the organisation is based

Do I need to apply for a visa if I am accredited for the Olympic Games in Rio? 

If you are granted media accreditation you will receive an Olympic Identity and Accreditation Card (OIAC) before the Games.  This will serve as your visa into Brazil.

How can I find accommodation in Rio?

If your press accreditation is confirmed, the Rio Organising Committee for the Olympic Games will send you a media accommodation guide detailing the accommodation options that are available for accredited media only.  Deadlines apply for reserving accommodation.

Do you provide accreditation for new media or Internet organisations?

The IOC has accepted the accreditation of Internet and new media organisations since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.  They are included in the NOC quotas and the same professional standards apply for all applicants.  Internet and new media organisations interested in accreditation for Rio 2016 should contact their National Olympic Committee. 

What are News Access Rules? 

News Access Rules apply to television and radio broadcasting by non-rights holding broadcast organisations (ENRs). Accredited ENRs can access all competition venues and the Main Press Centre, but under specific conditions as outlined in the News Access Rules.

News Access Rules are designed to protect the exclusivity of broadcasters who have paid for rights, while permitting fair access for ENRs to broadcast news highlights for news purposes. The News Access Rules clearly outline the rules that apply to coverage by ENR organisations, as well as venue access rules and restrictions within the Host City.

If your organisation is granted ENR accreditation, it is obliged to sign an Undertaking on behalf of the organisation and all persons accredited by the organisation to abide by the News Access Rules.

If I am granted a non-rights holding ENR accreditation, am I allowed to film in Olympic Venues? 

Non-rights holders are not allowed to take professional video equipment into Olympic Venues or from filming, recording or broadcasting from within Olympic Venues as outlined in the News Access Rules.  Accredited non-rights holders are permitted to take and use professional video equipment into the Main Press Centre (MPC) and may broadcast, via the Internet, all or portions of press conferences that take place in the MPC, without territorial restrictions, provided there is a delay of thirty minutes from the conclusion of the press conference.

What are High Demand Events? 

When media numbers exceed the seating capacity of the venue media facilities, typically the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the finals sessions of swimming and other specific events or competition sessions, these ‘High Demand Events’ will be ticketed for the written and photographic press.  The allocation and distribution of tickets to the press for High Demand Events is implemented by IOC Media Operations and is administered through the IOC Media Operations Ticketing Office located at the Main Press Centre.  The IOC distributes the high demand event tickets to nominated delegates from the National Olympic Committees who are responsible for the allocation of tickets.  The specific events that will be ticketed will be announced closer to the Games.

As a non-rights holder, will I have access to all events? 

ENR holders do not qualify for tickets for high demand events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Are accreditations transferable? 

Accreditations are not transferable and can only be issued to one person to cover the Games. 

How do I find out more about the facilities and services available to the press at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games? 

Further information is available on Rio 2016’s extranet, the Rio Exchange.  Please contact Rio Press Operations at pressoperations@rio2016.com.