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BOCOG to Sign Several More Partners

Olympic organizers are set to sign three or four more partnership agreements for the 2008 Games, a senior official of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) disclosed in Beijing on November 4.

"We have six (partners). I know that discussions with another three or four [are going on]," said Gerhard Heiberg, chairman of the IOC's Marketing Commission.

"There will be nine or ten partners by the end of the year. After that, we can continue and go to the Supplier Programme."

So far, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) has signed six partners, including German automobile giant Volkswagen, China Mobile and the Bank of China.

Heiberg spent two days visiting each of the partners, extending the IOC's gratitude for their enthusiasm in sponsoring the Olympic Games.

"We are proud that Chinese companies are interested. That's why I think I should go around to thank them and to congratulate them," said Heiberg.

In spite of enormous opportunities that the Olympic Games provide, a lack of experience is hindering some Chinese enterprises from taking proper advantage of the games, said Heiberg.

"They are really passionate, but they don't have any experience. The IOC, with our former partners, has a lot of experience. We will work through and with BOCOG in trying to tell them what they can make out of this," he said.

"We will supply the specialists and the people who can help them with everything at their disposal. That way they can easily and quickly understand what possibilities are for the promotions of their products and services."

Proceeds from the partnership have already exceeded BOCOG's expectations, sources with BOCOG said.