ChinaRealNews

Asia-Pacific people await Olympic Games opening ceremony extravaganza

2008-08-08 Beijing
 
More than two-thirds of people across Asia Pacific are planning to watch what is anticipated to be one of the most spectacular opening ceremonies in the history of the Olympic Games, according to a recent survey commissioned by Visa. With 69 percent of people planning to watch the extravaganza, the opening ceremony appears to have universal appeal across various demographics. James Dixon, Country Manager, Hong Kong and Macau, Visa International, said, “Given the widespread enthusiasm for this year’s opening ceremony, combined with the highly auspicious date - 8 August 2008 at 8.00 p.m. - marking the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, this is certain to be a curtain raiser like no other.” 
 

6,000 people given chance to view Olympic Games for free

2008-08-07 Beijing
 
Visa previously launched a lucky draw campaign in the Asia Pacific region, giving cardholders a chance to win one trip for two to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Visa International estimates that the company needs to arrange 15 Boeing 747-400 passenger planes to carry 6,000 guests to Beijing to watch the grand events. The Visa three-day, two-night trip includes two round-trip air tickets, a total of four tickets to two of the Olympic Games, hotel accommodation as well as Visa merchandise pack.
 

OMO, Wal-Mart and Carrefour join Microsoft’s MSN green alliance

2008-08-06 Beijing
�
With the fast approaching of the Olympic Games, OMO, Wal-Mart and Carrefour officially joined Microsoft’s MSN green alliance, to jointly promote the green charity action among the public. To give strong support to the plastic bag ban that took effect in June, Microsoft’s MSN, together with OMO, Wal-Mart and Carrefour, kicked off an eco-friendly bags-themed activity. From now till mid-September, consumers purchasing RMB20 worth of OMO products at designated supermarkets will be entitled to a green bag. According to an executive at Unilever, OMO has been committed to China’s environmental protection work, and aims to support the Beijing Olympic Games with their real action.
�

Men and women have differences in sports preference

2008-08-06 Beijing
�
With the fast approaching of the Beijing Olympic Games, Visa surveyed 508 persons in Hong Kong to find their sports preference. The proportion of male and female respondents who chose football, accounts for 37 percent and 11 percent, respectively. In addition, differences also lie in ages. People aged between 18 and 24 like watching diving programme more, while adults aged 35 or above prefer watching rhythmic gymnastics.
�
�

Nike sacrifices part interests, hoping Chinese National Swimming Team to achieve better results in Olympics

2008-07-23 Beijing

Chinese National Swimming Team recently revealed China’s swimming players can participate in the Beijing Olympics with “Sharkskin” swimming suits. Zhang Yadong, general coach of Chinese National Swimming Team, said the decision was finally made last week thanks to the concession of the Team’s sponsor Nike, which has sacrificed part of its business interests, hoping the Team to achieve better results in the Olympics.

Ge You receives highest recognition among spokesmen for Olympic sponsors

2008-07-17 Beijing
 
The market research institution Nielsen has recently made a questionnaire investigation online in Mainland China, to examine efficiencies Olympic sponsors have gained through engaging spokesmen. The survey shows that the combination of China Mobile and its spokesman Ge You has received the highest recognition, followed by the combination of Liu Xiang and CocaCola. While the combination of Jacky Chen and Visa was only ranked seventh.

Beijing Olympics follows some rules of previous Olympics

2008-07-16 Beijing
 
Looking back upon the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, we can find that the Beijing Olympics is following many rules which have been used in the two previous Olympics. For example, audiences can only buy tickets with Visa cards in the 2004 Athens Olympics, and people are not allowed to taken pop cans with them when they go to stadiums.
 

Most foreign journalists satisfied with facilities of press centers for Beijing Olympics

2008-07-14 Beijing
 
As the Beijing Olympics are around the corner, three press centers have opened. Most of the foreign journalists said they are satisfied with those centers’ facilities, but more needs to be done to improve certain services. In addition, the organizers of this year’s Olympics have reached an agreement with Visa and discontinued the reload dining card service, leading to inconvenience for journalists. Foreign journalists who do not want to pay a 1-5 percent surcharge must make payment in cash.
 

Ambush marketing hurting sponsors

2008-07-10 Beijing

With Olympic organizers recently announcing measures to curb Olympic ambush marketing, official sponsors should be looking forward to reaping the uninterrupted spoils of their investment in the Games, a latest survey report said. When consumers were asked to identify which brands were Olympic sponsors from a list of both sponsor and non-sponsor brands, a high level of consumers chose China Mobile, Lenovo and Coca-Cola. At the same time, non-sponsors have not been slow to get in on the act, incorporating sports-related themes or athletes in their advertising, designed to establish a connection between their brands and the Games.

Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad launches new regulations to control advertising initiatives of non-Olympics partners

2008-07-07 Beijing

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad has put in place measures to control advertising initiatives of non-Olympics partners. From 11 July 2008, any non-Olympics partners will be prohibited from using Olympics-related logos or elements in their TV commercials or other promotions. Compliance with those regulations also demonstrates enterprises’ commitments to corporate social responsibility.