Press Release for BOCOG Marketing

(BEIJING, February 20) -- Ms. Yuan Bin, director of BOCOG's Marketing Department, offered an update on the work progress and next steps in Beijing Olympic Marketing at the Olympic Media Centre.

Subjects for the Year 2007 included progress made in sponsorship programs, licensing, and efforts and achievements made in sponsor services and marketing operations. The priority areas for 2008 Beijing Olympic marketing are:

• Continue to raise the standards and improve the quality and efficiency of sponsor services. The Marketing Department is working to ensure all the rights entitled to the sponsors so as to boost their corporate image via sponsoring the Olympic Games;

• Finalize the sponsorship selection for the Paralympic Games. Efforts are to be made to promote public awareness of Paralympics and the socially-responsible image of the sponsors;

• Develop more products for Games-time and venue merchandising, with emphasis on meeting the public needs. Thorough preparations must be made for smooth venue retailing and operation during the Games-time. Anti-counterfeiting efforts will be more aggressive;

• Enhance brand protection and anti-ambush marketing for the Olympics. A dedicated working group will be in place to protect the Olympic brand. Other major efforts include outdoor advertising control, awareness campaign on anti-ambush marketing, and cracking down on copyright infringements and ambush marketing;

• Further test and evaluate marketing efforts in venue operations through Good Luck Beijing sport events and the second comprehensive event exercises. Team-building will be strengthened at venues as well as at the Marketing Department, with an efficient Games-time working mechanism being established, and

• Keep the momentum in the work of the Sponsor Club programme. Focus issues and concerns of the sponsors will be addressed at the 4th Sponsor Workshop. Games-time plan will be discussed with the sponsors at Partner Reviews for facilitating their operation plan.

Adidas and Yili, two BOCOG sponsors also attended the press conference and briefed the audience on the benefits and gains via sponsoring the Beijing Olympic Games.