Xu Jicheng explained the move which will see the Main Press Centre and International Broadcasting Centre merged into one entity.

The single space will be known as the Main Media Centre and comes after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) request to improve effiency.

The Main Media Centre will be housed at the China National Convention Center and 12,000 broadcasters and 3,000 journalists are expected to work under its roof.

Its design is largely based on original plans for the International Broadcasting Centre, but the end result will be scaled back by 4,000 square metres.

Plans for a 28,000 square metre separate Main Press Centre have been scrapped.

"The concept of the Main Media Centre is not new," said Xu to China's national press agency Xinhua.

"In the past, it was more like two separate areas in one building. 

"However, this time, Beijing 2022 will fully integrate the two to redefine the concept. 

"The IOC hopes to take this chance to promote this practice to future Olympic Winter Games or even Summer Olympic Games."

A smaller media area is possible because more compact equipment and technological advances such as 5G allows for more interviews and coverage to be produced directly from the sporting venues.

Journalists and broadcasters will therefore not rely on the Main Media Centre as much as before, it is hoped.

"The Main Media Centre will be divided into four areas for functional use, public service, publicity and cultural demonstration and operation office," said Gao Zhi, chief of the press centre division for Beijing 2022.

"Both space and operation of the former Main Press Centre and International Broadcasting Centre will be fully integrated."