(BEIJING, June 20) -- The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) opened a two-day workshop with the Games' sponsors on Wednesday to update them on the progress of the Olympic preparations and exchange views on how to further their cooperation.
In his congratulatory message, BOCOG President Liu Qi praised the sponsors for their "outstanding contributions" to the preparatory work for the next Olympic Summer Games. Since the sponsorship program started six years ago, 58 domestic and international enterprises, including the Worldwide Olympic Partners and Beijing 2008 sponsors, have taken part in the scheme, he said. Expressing BOCOG's sincere wish to serve them better, he invited them to present their suggestions and proposals.
The meeting will discuss a wide range of issues: Olympic marketing, sport competitions, venue construction, venue operations, city operations, environment, Olympic Village, protection of Olympic marks and related intellectual property rights, billboard and TV ad control, media & communications, media operations, Olympic culture, look & image, opening and closing ceremonies, torch relay, security, ticketing, accommodation, transport, accreditation, Olympic Hospitality Center, spectator services, volunteers, rate card, logistics, technology, "Good Luck Beijing" sport events, Paralympic Games and co-host cities.
The opening session was attended by over 400 people including the representatives of the Worldwide Olympic Partners, the Beijing 2008 Partners and Sponsors, Exclusive Suppliers and Suppliers, as well as officials from the International Olympic Committee, the Organizing Committee of Vancouver 2010 Winter Games and that of London 2012 Summer Games, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the six co-host cities - Hong Kong (for equestrian events), Qingdao (for sailing events), Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao (for football preliminaries.)
The workshop is the third of its kind in the history of BOCOG. Two others were held in 2005 and 2006 respectively. BOCOG also held the first hospitality workshop last November. More similar meetings are scheduled in the lead-up to the Olympics.
