The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG)
officially launched phase two of the Beijing 2008 Sponsorship
Program Thursday.
Speaking at the ceremony, BOCOG Executive Vice President and
Secretary-General Wang Wei said, "The great business potential
presented by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will ensure that those
who get involved will be rewarded with great investment
returns."
Potential sponsors are expected to use Beijing 2008 to
strengthen brand recognition and raise their company profile.
BOCOG Marketing Director Yuan Bin assured potential sponsors
their official status would be protected with a rights-and-benefits
package from unaffiliated rivals wanting to jump on the Olympic
bandwagon.
According to Yuan, the rights-and-benefits package sponsors will
receive includes use of the names and emblems of the Beijing 2008
Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Chinese Olympic
Committee and all the Chinese Olympic teams that are to participate
in the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games and Beijing 2008 Olympic
Summer Games.
Sponsors also get the opportunity to exclusively supply products
to BOCOG and have the chance to take part in the Olympic torch
relay as well as securing tickets for the opening and closing
ceremonies, accreditation, hospitality, transportation and
accommodation.
"All products that fall in line with the Olympic spirit, the
three concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games and Olympic marketing
rules will be considered for sponsorship opportunities," Yuan
added.
The BOCOG Sponsorship Program consists of three tiers of
support: Beijing 2008 Partners, Beijing 2008 Sponsors and Beijing
2008 Suppliers.
The Beijing 2008 Partners Program was inaugurated on September
1, 2003. Seven companies have so far joined: the Bank of
China, China Network Corporation, Sinopec, China Mobile,
Volkswagen (China), Adidas and Air China.
Yuan said that partners were still being selected and that the
supplier program would be launched soon.
"Most of the sponsors are scheduled to come on board by the end
of this year and companies from home and abroad will have equal
opportunity to participate," she stated.
At the briefing, representatives from the Lenovo Group,
Volkswagen (China), World Wide Olympic Partner and Beijing 2008
Partner made presentations to share their Olympic marketing
experience.
(China Daily April 1, 2005)