Khairy opens KL SEA Games Main Press Centre, International Broadcast Centre (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: With nine days left before the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017), the Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcast Centre (IBC) have been officially opened.  
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin launched the operations of the centres at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here. 
"The number of journalists and photographers involved in KL2017 is nearly three time larger than the 2015 Singapore SEA Games two years ago," he said adding that this showed the high level of interest shown in the 29th edition of the biennial games hosted by Malaysia.
Khairy urged members of the media to undertake their tasks in a responsible manner including publishing  reports that were accurate.
Among others,  744 work stations are being made available to those covering KL2017 while IBC will host nine broadcasters from five countries.
During the KL2017 that runs from Aug 19-30,  28 sports will be broadcast live with more than 30 hours of airtime daily.
Besides the media, MITEC will host eight sporting events namely artistic gymnastics and gimrama, fencing, table-tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, indoor hockey, muay thai and boxing. 
Strategically located in Persiaran Dutamas, MITEC has a built-up area of nearly 140,000 sq m. 
It is the country's largest exhibition space with 11 halls and can accommodate up to 40,000 visitors at a time.
KL2017 features 404 events across 38 sports. — Bernama