Sohu.com Inc has been chosen as the official sponsor of Internet content services for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Under an agreement signed yesterday with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Sohu, one of China's leading Internet content service companies, will construct and operate the official BOCOG website. The contract will run until December 2008.

"We believe that with Sohu's extensive social impact, reliable and secure Internet technology and high-quality and efficient content, BOCOG will be able to meet, more effectively and in a more timely manner, the expectations and demands of the general public to understand, participate in and support the Beijing 2008 Games," said Wang Wei, BOCOG executive vice-president and secretary-general, at the signing ceremony.

Yuan Bin, director of BOCOG's marketing department, said Sohu will contribute to the content of the BOCOG official website together with the BOCOG media and communications department.

The firm is also allowed to use the Beijing Olympic logo to promote its own brand.

So far, ten Beijing 2008 partners and five sponsors have been selected by BOCOG.

The partners are Bank of China, China Netcom, Sinopec, CNPC, China Mobile, Volkswagen Group (China), Adidas, Johnson & Johnson, Air China and PICC P&C.

Together with Sohu, UPS, Haier Group, Tsingtao Beer and Yanjing Beer are the official sponsors.

Meanwhile, the Olympic Stamp programme was launched by BOCOG yesterday. China Post will gradually issue commemorative stamps relating to the Olympic Games.

Other products such as commemorative envelopes will also be published.

(China Daily November 8, 2005)