World Aquatics and the event organising committee are pleased to announce the opening of media accreditation for national and international media to the World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023.
World Aquatics’ showcase event returns to Fukuoka, Japan with the top international athletes in the sports of swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving competing from 14-30 July 2023.
An experienced host with a passionate aquatics fan base, Fukuoka first hosted the ninth edition of the World Aquatics Championships in 2001. This year’s event will be the 20th edition and comes with great anticipation as Japan successfully held the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games two years ago.
As the country’s only city to have hosted the World Aquatics Championships, Fukuoka City firmly holds its reputation as the aquatic sports capital of Japan. Selected by the New York Times as one of the 52 Places to go in 2023, the city sitting on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island has been gaining global attention and will be sure to star this summer on the world stage.
ACCREDITATION
We invite all media representatives wishing to cover the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023 to submit their accreditation applications individually through the World Aquatics GMS Media Accreditation portal (https://registration.fina.org/) before 13 June 2023, 23:59 UTC (14 June 2023, 8:59 JST)
The registration is for all members of the media, written press, photographic press, online media, and writers and photographers working for publications and/or websites of the World Aquatics National Member Federations.
All international registrations submitted through the World Aquatics GMS will be subject to approval by the World Aquatics Communication Department. All domestic registrations will be subject to approval by the Fukuoka 2023 Organising Committee Media Team.
If you have already attended a World Aquatics (previously FINA) event, please use your existing World Aquatics GMS account. If you have any issues with registration, please contact the GMS team at gms@worldaquatics.com.
Accredited event media will collect their cards at the Accreditation Centre located inside the Hakata Port International Terminal, next to Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A. A valid travel document containing a photo must be presented to receive media accreditation.
For the World Aquatics Masters Championships – Kyushu 2023, media accreditation opens on 1 March 2023. Accredited event media covering the World Aquatics Masters Championships will be able to collect their cards at the Kumamoto City and Kagoshima City competition venues. The only Accreditation Centre located in Fukuoka City will be the Hakata Port International Terminal.
For the World Aquatics Masters Accreditation Centres: Please select which AD Centre you will be collecting your accreditation card when registering for the World Aquatics Masters Championships. It will not be possible to make any changes after the submission of the application.
The recording of video material inside any competition or training venue at World Aquatics events is strictly reserved for rights-holding broadcasters. Any breach of this restriction may result in the cancellation of the accreditation.
Should a person lose their accreditation card, they must immediately report it to the event accreditation centre. Please note that a penalty fee may be imposed for the reissue of a lost accreditation card.
ENTRY VISAS
Media requiring a visa for entry into Japan must fill out the necessary procedures on the GMS at least eight weeks prior to their entry to Japan. The Organising Committee will consult with the Central Government based on the information registered on the GMS and send an invitation letter via email to the media registrant if his or her application has been approved. The letter will be issued two to three weeks following approval on the GMS.
Following receipt of the invitation letter, please submit your signed visa application and letter to the Japanese diplomatic mission.
To pick up a visa, a person must go to the Japanese diplomatic mission one or two weeks after submission of the application.
Please note that you must fill out the country and city name of the Japanese diplomatic mission where you will be submitting and picking up your visa on the GMS and that it will not be possible to make any changes after the submission of your application. Please make sure that there are no mistakes when filling out the information details.
More information on the visa entry procedure can be found in the Event Visa Guide.
MEDIA ACCOMMODATIONS
Three hotels have been secured for accredited media use during the World Aquatics Championships- Fukuoka 2023. All three hotels are conveniently located in the city centre.
The hotels are:
- NISHITETSU HOTEL CROOM HAKATA*** (Single: USD 85)
- HAKATA GREEN HOTEL ANNEX*** (Single: USD 100)
- COMFORT HOTEL HAKATA*** (Single: USD 100)
The Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Hakata is the only media hotel that does not include breakfast in the price.
All media rooms will be available at preferential rates and include Wi-Fi, and taxes (except the city tax). Any additional services are excluded from the rates and must be covered at each guest’s expense.
Rooms can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis through the World Aquatics GMS until 23:59 UTC on 13 June 2023.
More information can be found in the Media Accommodation Guide.
TRANSPORTATION
The Fukuoka 2023 transport plan is being designed to provide a smart and sustainable event, with Accredited Media staying at the official media hotels provided Media Transportation free of charge.
Please note that official event transportation shall be provided only for media and broadcaster representatives who booked their rooms in the official hotels through the World Aquatics GMS.
Transportation will be available between the official Media hotels and the competition venues. Transportation routes and timetables are still under consideration. Exact routes and timetables will be available in the official Media Guide.
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Click here to view the competition schedule. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. The link provided in this section will be updated with the latest information, should any event schedule change.
COMPETITION VENUES
Click here for more information about the host city and venues for the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023.
MEDIA FACILITIES
Fukuoka 2023 will provide a comfortable working environment for all Accredited Media, delivering a range of facilities and services in line with the level established at previous World Aquatics Championships.
Main Press Centre (MPC)
The Main Press Centre is located in Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A, the swimming and artistic swimming venue.
The following services are offered at the Main Press Centre:
- Work desks with power outlets and internet access
- Help Desk staffed by media operations volunteers
- On-demand printing of extended start lists and results
- Wi-Fi and LAN-cable internet connection
- Nikon Professional Services for accredited photographers
- Media lounge with light snacks, coffee and mineral water
Media facilities and services at venues
Across the World Aquatics Championships competition venues, Accredited Media will receive support from the Fukuoka 2023 Media Operations team, have a range of dedicated facilities and services and enjoy the same excellent standards that you normally do at the World Aquatics Championships.
The following facilities and services will be provided to Accredited Media at the four competition venues of the Fukuoka World Championships:
- Venue media workrooms, offering work desks with power outlets and dedicated, media-only internet access, a help desk staffed by media operations volunteers, on-demand printing of extended start lists and results, and a media lounge area with free snacks and hot and cold beverages
- Note: As Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall B (water polo venue) is located adjacent to the MPC, the venue workroom will be the MPC.
- Limited ENG camera positions (only for rights-holding broadcasters)
- Photo positions
- Premium Mixed Zone (only for rights-holding broadcasters)
- Mixed Zone (for all accredited media and broadcasters)
- Media tribune or reserved media seats.
- Media conferences will only be held at the swimming competitions, evening sessions only, and after the Water Polo semi-finals and medal matches. The Mixed Zones will be the main place for interaction between the media and the athletes.
Further information on media services and facilities including maps of the venues will be available in the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023 Media Guide, which will be published on the event website in May 2023.
Regarding broadcasters’ facilities and services, including IBC, rate card and more, the rights-holders shall receive direct communications.
OFFICIAL BRIEFING
An official Accredited Media briefing for the written and digital press will be held on 13 July 2023 at the Main Press Centre, with the time determined later.
The Official Photographer Briefings for photographers covering each of the six disciplines will be held the day before the discipline’s first competition day, at the relevant competition venue.
- Diving 13 July 2023 (Time TBD)
- Artistic Swimming 13 July 2023 (Time TBD)
- Open Water Swimming 14 July 2023 (Time TBD)
- Water Polo 15 July 2023 (Time TBD)
- Swimming 22 July 2023 (Time TBD)
- High Diving 24 July 2023 (Time TBD)
RATE CARD
For media representatives interested in the rate card, please contact the Organising Committee of the World Aquatics Championships- Fukuoka 2023 directly at media@fukuokaoc.org.
KEY CONTACTS
World Aquatics Media Relations | International Press and Photographers
Contact: Torin Koos, World Aquatics Communication Manager
Email: torin.koos@worldaquatics.org
World Aquatics Broadcast Relations
Contact: Peter Hall, World Aquatics Senior Broadcast Manager
Email: peter.hall@worldaquatics.org
Fukuoka 2023 Media Relations- Domestic Press and Photographers
Contact: Fumiko Takimoto
Email Address: media@fukuokaoc.org
Fukuoka 2023 Broadcast Relations（Booking Team）
Contact: Kohei Yamada
Email Address: ml-booking2022@tv-asahi.co.jp
ANNEX: MEDIA ACCOMMODATION IN FUKUOKA
NISHITETSU HOTEL CROOM HAKATA
- Address: 1-17-6 Hakata-Ekimae, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka 812-0011, Japan
- Distance from venue: 2.9km
- Distance from airport: 3.5km
- Price (does not include breakfast): Single: $85
HAKATA GREEN HOTEL ANNEX
- Address: 4-32 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0012, Japan
- Distance from venue: 3.2km
- Distance from airport: 3.5km
- Price (including breakfast): Single: USD 100
COMFORT HOTEL HAKATA
- Address: 2 -1-1 Hakata-Ekimae, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0011, Japan
- Distance from venue: 2.9km
- Distance from airport: 3.7km
- Price (including breakfast): Single: USD 100