JEDDAH, 6 February 2003 — More than 250 foreign media organizations, including radio and television stations, newspapers, magazines and news agencies, have been invited to cover this year’s pilgrimage, according to Prince Turki ibn Sultan, assistant minister of information.
He said that major international television stations including CNN, BBC and MBC, as well as news agencies such as Reuters, Associated Press and AFP, will take part in the coverage of the five-day event, which begins on Feb 9.
He said the Information Ministry will make use of Civil Defense helicopters to take aerial pictures as the pilgrims move from Makkah to the Mina valley, then to the plains of Arafat and back to Mina via Muzdalifa during the peak days of the Haj.
The ministry has reached an agreement with three Saudi newspapers to publish special Haj supplements.
The prince said the ministry has informed more than 40 Arab and Islamic radio stations about the live coverage being made available.
