Press Centre Officially Opened

The Press Centre was opened by Richard Grasl (CFO of the Austrian broadcaster ORF), Petra Stolba (CEO of the Austrian Tourism Board) and Norbert Kettner (CEO of Vienna Tourism). The Head of Press at ORF Roman Horacek made the introductions.

Over 1,700 journalists from over 50 countries will be using the Press Centre facilities over the next two weeks. As well as providing desk and a working area for accredited press to work on their computers, there are also several interview cabins for those journalists who want to conduct one to one interviews with the artists. 

A separate hall has also been set up for the numerous press conferences that will take place throughout the duration, it can seat over 500 journalists.

There are huge screens set up so that everyone can follow what is happening in the main arena. 

Apart from a working space there is space set aside for the journalists and fans to relax and socialise, with areas provided with comfortable sofas and scenic backdrops, depicting the very best  of what Austria and Vienna has to offer, and journalists can sit and listen to a variety of Austrian music from classical to pop.  In something of a first for a press centre there is also a roulette table. As well as tea, coffee and snack facilities there is also a separate restaurant.

The overall aim has been to make the Press Centre as comfortable as possible for those working there over the next two weeks, as they will be spending a lot of time in this huge office away from home.

Apart from when they are in the press centre, journalists can also book up a variety of trips to see the very best of the city of Vienna.