They are not accredited with the Beijing Olympic Games' organizers. But they are journalists all the same and may have a more enjoyable experience than their accredited counterparts at the Main Press Center (MPC).

The 2008 Beijing International Media Center (BIMC) for non-accredited journalists opened yesterday and offers all the routine services such as news conferences and free Internet access.

But those comprise the cake. The thick icing comes in the shape of cultural activities: Peking Opera and acrobatic performances, folk handicraft shows, experiencing the fine art of Chinese embroidery, watching 20 Chinese movies with English subtitles and city tours. The list runs longer.

And the cherry on the cake is that the journalists can enjoy all those free.

As if those are not enough, the non-accredited journalists have a mouth-watering offer: a buffet dinner with 30-50 Chinese and Western dishes for only $1. Not impressed. Just see what their accredited counterparts have to pay for a combination-meal at the MPC: at least $10.

"We aim to make life more convenient for the journalists, and we hope they feel at home here," said BIMC director Zhai Huisheng.

So far, more than 5,000 journalists, 2,700 of them from abroad, have registered with the BIMC, says Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, who is working with the BIMC to help reporters. "More are expected to register because the process is still on."

The BIMC will organize two or three press conferences every day. For burning issues such as environmental protection and the economy, "we will invite professionals to talk face-to-face with the journalists", Zhai said.

The journalists can apply for information on specific topics or to interview somebody. "We'll help them arrange the interviews," Zhai said. Or, they can travel across the country to get information on something they are interested in.

The 60,000-sq-m center has three working areas, two press conference halls and 12 media rooms from the first to the fourth floors in the 19-story building.

The floors above the fourth are guest rooms where the non-accredited journalists can stay, though they have to pay for it.

The bigger press conference hall can seat about 500 people and the other about 200. The three working areas can hold about 570 journalists, and have 200 desktops for those not carrying a laptop. But free wireless Internet service is available only on the first, second and 19th floors of the building.

"I am quite satisfied with the facilities here," says Juan Rosso, a journalist with Colombia's Caracol TV International. "The staff and volunteers are very kind and have helped me a lot."

Chito Romana, Beijing bureau chief of ABC News, says he is more interested in Chinese people's reaction to the Games and their interaction with foreigners. "Stories about people are the most interesting."