Xinhua: Yanjing named as domestic beer sponsor of 2008 Olympics

Excerpt:

Beijing Yanjing Brewery Co. Ltd has been selected as the official domestic beer sponsor of the 2008 Olympic Games, organisers announced on Wednesday.

Yanjing's signing up means the 2008 Olympics have two sponsors in the beer category as Busch-Anheuser Budweiser Beer signed last year as the international beer sponsor to support the Games.

There is an established principle in Olympic marketing that only one enterprise can be selected as the sponsor and enjoys exclusive marketing rights within the designated product category.

"This is an exception," said Yuan Bin, marketing director of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG).

"The IOC and BOCOG jointly decided to give both enterprises thesponsor status in light of the special situation," she added.

Yuan added that the two breweries enjoy the same rights and obligations.

Yanjing, one of China's leading brewery based in Beijing, will provide funds, beer products and related services to the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, BOCOG, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Chinese sports delegations to the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics and 2008 Olympics.