Thomas Scocca, a reporter from the New York Observer, submitted his application for a temporary driver's license at the new Beijing Olympic Media Center Sunday morning.
His license was ready for pickup the very next day.
This quick turn-around time is but one example of the convenience services provided by the "one-stop" turnkey marketing system newly implemented by the media center.
The "one-stop" service system allows Chinese and international journalists covering Beijing, and the preparations for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, to conveniently utilize services and access information from 29 different departments and organizations throughout Beijing - all at one centralized location - at the Beijing Olympic Media Center.
Cai Fuchao, the Beijing municipal publicity head and Jiang Xiaoyu, BOCOG executive vice-president, were present at the launch of the "one-stop" services on Sunday.
In his remarks, Mr. Cai emphasized efficiency in services as a requirement for a world-class Olympic Games. The "one-stop" service center for journalists will be a first in Olympic Games history and will undoubtedly give the media ¨C and hopefully their audiences around the world - a positive impression of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
"This method is great. It has saved us a lot of work," praised Jamie FlorCruz, Beijing Bureau Chief for CNN.
Charles Wheland, correspondent for L'Agence France-Presse, who has covered the 1988, 1996, and 2002 Olympic Games, told reporters that of all the Games he has covered, Beijing is the first city to provide "one-stop" services, offering efficiency and convenience to journalists.
Of the reporters present, Mr. Scocca was most elated, having obtained the first temporary driver's license ever issued under the "one-stop" system.
"I am extremely happy. I know that traffic management in Beijing is very strict; I'd never have imagined that I'd get my driver's license so quickly. Now I can drive by myself, which will make interviewing a lot more convenient."
The 29 bureaus and organizations participating in the "one-stop" service system include: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television; the State Administration of Foreign Exchange; BOCOG; the Bank of China and the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Get a temporary driver's license in a day