#0
I woke up this morning and started to watch a preview show for the Winter Olympics. And I had a thought.....which is usually dangerous!
Maybe I should start planning to attend the London 2012 Olympics as a Demotix photojournalist....and then I thought.... how the bloody hell is that going to happen when the world and his wife are going to want to have press accreditation?
So my question is this....will Demotix help me and you...us...to obtain the passes we need to get up close to the action and get those money shots the agencies crave?
I would love to hear your thoughts and would especially like to hear from those of you who are planning to attend this years Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Cheers
Jean-Paul
On 2012, we're already working on this.
We want Demotix to take front and centre stage here.
So we'll keep you posted!
T
Glad to hear it Turi, I'll be very interested in covering several different disciplines, so please let me know how you get on with the arrangements.
Cheers
JP 
Wow, start at the top.
If you attend a local derby match or event, you will get great access, late in the day. If you attend a regional championship, you will expect to wear a bib and add your name to a list, may hand over a few shots. Attend a national event or major clash, expect to need accreditation well in advance and be required to hand over shots to the organisers if you're freelancing. Attempt to attend and international event and expect to be turned down unless you are well known, or applied super early and got lucky, have a history with the PR agency or are known with them, positively.
Attend the Olympics.... you are working for a big agency, have a lot of funds or have spent a lot of time making you name known amongst the events you want to shoot.
I started my 2012 bid two years ago, I don't expect to get in, as media, if I am very lucky I might get to shoot a warm up day or from a long way off. Be prepared to shoot only on a 600+.
Best of luck.
Jools
PS Turi - if you get any where with the demotix bid, I would love to hear.
Hey Guys,
I'm aiming to shoot only the BMX events. Do you think I'm in with a chance? I will be shooting BMX events all over Europe in 2011, maybe that will help?
JP
JP,
Start now and get to know the riders and teams etc. Hopefully you will also get to know people who are on the Olympic team and be a "recognised face" to the BMX circus. This may well help you get into the training, other get togethers and events. I would suggest shooting general documentary as well as just the sports action of the races.
Now the Olympics (IOC) may well have very strict rules on who is accredited to what on "their" premises. and there is probably not a cat in hell's chance of getting in as press for the events. BTW a UK Press Card will not make any difference here. They want the appropriate newspapers, magazines, agencies etc. A full time UK Press-Card /NUJ journalist who works for Horse and Jockey is not likely to get in to the BMX events
However if you are well in with the UK Olympic team they *may* be able to pull some strings for a face they know and trust..... So unless you are working for the UK BMX magazines it will be a long struggle
The other thing is security is going to be very tight., Personally I will be avoiding London altogether during the Olympics.
Good luck and remember not all the action is on the track....
Chris Hills
Jagraphics
www.jagraphics.co.uk/photo
