The launching ceremony of the Media Centre for the ISF XI Women's Fast Pitch World Championship was held in Beijing's Fengtai Sports Centre on August 26, 2006. Mr. Bruce Wawrzyniak, ISF Director of Communications, attended the ceremony and made a speech, believing that the Beijing women's worlds will be as successful as the Nanjing Junior Women's World Championship held three years ago.

According to the Beijing organizing committee, a total of 423 journalists from some 70 media organizations, including 106 from overseas, have entered their names for covering the tournament which is also an Olympic qualifier and a test event for 2008.

The media centre offers workrooms, lounge, dining hall and press rooms, with services of communication, event information, broad band and wireless web technology. During the tournament the centre will also offer free lunch and dinner to bring convenience to the journalists in their work.

A special work group of the media centre will see to the airport pickup and hotel check-in services for those journalists who make special trip to Beijing to cover the event. The organizing committee will also make arrangements for them to tour the city's Olympic venues that are under construction or to cover events other than the softball tournament.

The opening ceremony of the ISF XI Women's Fast Pitch World Championship is scheduled to begin at 09:00 tomorrow.