Following Bank of China’s successful IPO in Hong Kong and Shanghai, the “FIG 2006 Bank of China World Cup Gymnastics”, named solely after BOC, will be held in Shanghai from July 14 to July 16. Bank of China, the Official Banking Partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is making an all-out effort, supporting the development of sports as well as accumulating financial service experience for international sports events and the forthcoming 2008 Olympics.
As one of the only six FIG World Cup competitions, representing the A-class event of FIG, this event is the highest level world gymnastics event ever staged in China since 1999, and also the highest level event before 2008 Olympics. This FIG World Cup assembled a number of glorious stars, including Teng Haibin, champion of Olympics, Brandon O’Neal from Canada, champion of World Cup, etc. FIG 2006 Bank of China World Cup Gymnastics also attracts many prestigious sponsors, including title sponsor Bank of China and other sponsors such as Coco Cola, Heng Yuanxiang, Super 8 Hotel, ANA Sky and so on.
It is the first time that top World Cup Gymnastics lands in China. Chinese gymnasts have fared quite well in the past Olympic Games, and their nice image of elegance, beauty and skillfulness clearly reflects the preferences of BOC target clients. Bank of China expects to enrich its sports sponsorship experience through the gymnastic world cup, in order to march towards the 2008 Olympics in an all-round manner. BOC has already launched a specific team responsible for the sports sponsorship.
“Birds pick the best trees to nest”, truthful as the old Chinese saying is, more and more international sports events are choosing major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai as their destination, following the successful bid for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. China is to host a series of international sports events like soccer and golf games in the years to come, which offers an excellent stage for practising the organization, management and construction work in preparation for the Beijing Olympics. Meanwhile, the series of sports events also provide a precious marketing stage for China’s giant enterprises, especially for those Beijing Olympics partners and sponsors.
As the Official Banking Partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Bank of China has seized this golden opportunity and promptly initiated publicity, financial services and marketing plans. The work team has already settled in Shanghai International Gymnastic Center, where the World Cup Gymnastics will be held, preparing for the financial services as well as decoration of the exhibition table, and the ticket sending channel has been erected now.
Through the World Cup Gymnastics, Bank of China expects to further understand the operating procedure of top international sports events, and successfully provide high quality financial services, such as a variety of flexible portfolio in response to the needs of different customers. The precious experience gained during the gymnastics tournament will be further studied and analyzed, and will then be enriched into BOC’s ongoing plans for the financial services during the 2008 Olympics.
Up to now, Bank of China has successfully provided financial services for two top international sports events, accumulating a large amount of experience and practical skills. During the February Winter Olympics in Torino, BOC provided on-the-scene financial services for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and the Chinese sports delegation, winning widespread applause. In 2006, BOC’s steps of Olympic marketing have been significantly accelerated: almost each month a brand-new financial product can be launched, including “2008-Golden Medal-Gold ”, “Olympic Protocol CD ”, “Uneven Bars” Renminbi Financing Products and “Olympic Growth Account”. Large scale promoting activities are also held on a monthly basis, for example, BOC Youth Pioneer Enter into Community, Ceremony for Selecting Yang Yang (famous Chinese woman skater) as BOC Olympic Image Ambassador, BOC Beijing Branch’s Resident Olympic Walkathon and BOC Tianjin Branch’s activity for Assisting the Handicapped, etc. The scheduled Olympic marketing and promoting tasks have basically been completed. Now, the focus is exclusively on wholeheartedly and successfully serving the World Cup Gymnastics.
Alongside the No. 3 Metro Line going through Shanghai, passengers are frequently attracted by billboards featuring BOC‘s gymnastics-version Olympic Visa Card, which has just undergone a facelift. An exciting gymnastic competition is ahead, and Bank of China, with its excellent services, has strong confidence to make it more exciting.
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