At the G8 summit in St. Petersburg journalists will be able to make long-distance and international phone calls free of charge

At the G8 summit in St. Petersburg in mid July, journalists will be able to make long-distance and international phone calls free of charge.

The telephones installed at the International Media Center will have free long-distance and international access, according to the official site of Russia’s G8 Presidency.

Apart from free Wi-Fi Internet access at the Media Center, all desks will be equipped with high-speed Internet access. 

The Media Center will be located on the territory of the state-run Palace of Congresses in the direct vicinity of the summit venue and will consist of several sections.

One of them, the St. Petersburg pavilion, will be close to the pier of passenger motorboats, which will take journalists to the Media Center.

In the pavilion, visitors will be able to learn about the history and cultural life of the Northern capital and its economic and scientific potential.

The press working area will feature 600 desks, 300 of which will be fitted with personal computers. All desks will have telephones with free international phone access, high-speed Internet lines, a lamp and three electric sockets.

Individual premises for news agencies will be located in the press zone.

TV companies will have a separate section with 120 TV cabins, each of which will receive an international television host broadcaster signal. There will be two stand-up positions within the Media Center’s territory – one will have a view of Konstantinovsky Palace and the other will overlook the center.

Ten radio cabins will be equipped for radio correspondents.

Copy machines, laser printers and faxes will be installed for the press in the working area. The information stand nearby will have additional details about events in the program, as well as materials and documents provided by the organizing committee and the national delegations.

The center will have five halls for conducting briefings and news conferences. One of them will have 400 seats, another two - 200 seats and the last two will be equipped with 100 seats. All of the halls will have professional lighting and public-address systems, rooms for simultaneous translation and Wi-Fi Internet access.

Hot breakfasts, lunches and dinners will be served to the press. The restaurant and snack bars will be open round-the-clock. Tea or coffee with sandwiches will be always available.

Smoking will be allowed only in specially designated areas. It will be prohibited inside sections.

During the summit, journalists will be taken to the International Media Center via motorboats, according to the official site of Russia’s G8 Presidency.

The Internet portal will carry information for the representatives of the media related to their work at the summit. It will describe in detail accreditation procedures, accommodation in St. Petersburg, customs formalities, Media Center services and carry information on currency exchange, major city stores, drivers’ licenses and even electric sockets.

The Organizing Committee’s recommendation for journalists is to stay in the Pribaltiyskaya or Moskva Hotels during the summit. Free shuttle buses will run between these hotels and Pulkovo International Airport and the Moskovsky Railway Station. In addition, 24-hour transportation will be organized from these hotels to the International Media Center, which will be located on the territory of the Palace of Congresses in Strelna, in the direct vicinity of the summit venue.

In order to get into the Media Center, accredited journalists will have to go through security check at the technical inspection point at the Marine Passenger Terminal. After security checks, they will be taken to Strelna by motorboats during the day and by buses at night.

The Organizing Committee informs that in case of bad weather, buses will be used instead of motorboats.

All premises in the Media Center are handicapped-friendly and two-floor sections will have special elevators, according to the site.

Every accredited journalist will receive a stationery kit, information materials and souvenirs.

The Organizing Committee will be accepting applications for accreditation until June 1.