Representatives from a score of international and domestic brand-name companies gathered in Beijing on Tuesday to participate in a workshop for Olympic sponsors.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), organized the Sponsor Workshop, the second edition in series, to outline the progress it has made in its marketing program.

During the two-day workshop, BOCOG officials will brief the participants on the latest developments in areas of Olympic preparations such as venue construction, sports, cultural events, look and image, media and communications, media operations, protection of Olympic trademarks and other related intellectual property rights, volunteers, technologies, and the "Green Olympics."

Topics which are closely related to the sponsor services, including accommodations, transport, accreditation and security, are also on the agenda.

Since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Marketing Plan was launched on September 1, 2003, 11 enterprises have been selected as official partners, while nine sponsors and four exclusive suppliers have been signed up.

Holding sponsor workshops is an established practice for the organizing committees of the Olympic Games to strengthen their marketing programs. It is regarded as one of the most effective ways to provide quality services to the Olympic sponsors. BOCOG has scheduled similar workshops on different topics and issues for each year in the run-up to 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2006)