Beijing is well ahead of schedule in its preparations for the
2008 Summer Games, and intends to widen the gap even
further.
Seven five-star hotels signed the Olympic Lodging Agreement with
the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (
BOCOG) in March to provide accommodation during the Games, to
be held from August 8 to 24, 2008. The Beijing Olympic Broadcasting
Co. (BOB) was established in May to ensure the successful
broadcasting of the Games, and a global search for the mascot
design was launched in May.
The Bank of China (BOC) became the official banking partner of
the 2008 Olympics on July 14 after "a thorough investigation and
all-round evaluation." BOC, one of China's four major state-owned
commercial banks, will provide financing and other forms of support
to the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, BOCOG, the Chinese Olympic
Committee, as well as Chinese sports delegations for the 2006
Winter Olympics in Turin and 2008 Summer Olympics.
"It is another important step in Beijing Olympics' market
development. I believe that the cooperation between BOC and BOCOG
will play an important role in ensuring a successful Olympics,"
said BOCOG Vice President Jiang Xiaoyu.
Germany's Volkswagen Group became BOCOG's automobile partner
last month. It will provide financial, automobile and other forms
of support.
Earlier, General Electric and Autos Origin became Worldwide
Olympic Partners.
In March, computer maker Lenovo (formerly Legend Group) became
China's first company to join the Olympic Partner Program.
Jiang said that other partnership negotiations are going well
and that BOCOG welcomes the participation of both foreign and
domestic companies in the Olympics.
The marketing plan is composed of licensing, sponsorship and
partnership programs. Partnerships and sponsorships include
four-year exclusive marketing rights, while the licensing program
authorizes companies to make and sell products with the official
Olympic emblem only after paying royalties to BOCOG.
After completing the conceptual designs of and public tenders
for four Olympic venues, Beijing embarked on a three-year
construction project.
The scale and complexity of venue construction for the Beijing
Games are unprecedented in any previous Olympic Games.
Beijing began construction of the National Stadium and the
National Swimming Center last December, broke ground for the
shooting range and cycling velodrome, and launched public bids two
months ago for two other Olympic venues, the National Tennis Center
and National Hockey Stadium that will be located in the Olympic
Green in north Beijing.
Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the International Olympic
Committee's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympic Games,
said his groups was very pleased with what they had seen when
inspecting the construction sites of the National Stadium and the
National Swimming Center.
The Chinese capital has promised to finish construction of its
sporting facilities at least a year ahead of the Games so that test
events may be held during 2007.
Verbruggen said he was confident that Beijing would achieve its
goals.
"We're very sure that, as it has been promised by BOCOG, the
work will be finished by the end of 2006, which is an absolute
record," said Verbruggen.
Earlier this month, the emblem for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic
Games was unveiled in a ceremony at the China Centenary Altar. The
red, blue and green logo, entitled "Heaven, Earth and Human," is
based on the Chinese character "zhi." It also includes the
logo of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the
English words "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games."
(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2004)