Sales of Beijing 2008 products could set records. (ATR)

Marketing Target Set at $70 Million

Beijing hopes to rake in a record $70 million from Olympic marketing programs, a top marketing official says.

"We are very optimistic of meeting our goal and the revenues of the Beijing Olympics may exceed that of any previous games," said Yuan Bin, BOCOG''s marketing director.

The target includes $50 million from sales of Olympic products and $20 million from coins and stamps.

A total of 48 Chinese and international companies have signed up as official Games sponsors and BOCOG will shift its focus to merchandising this year, Yuan said.

The number of outlets for Olympic merchandise in China will reach 2,000 by the end of 2007, and licensed goods will also go on sale overseas this year, she said.

About 4,000 products, most featuring the five "fuwa" mascots, are already on sale in more than 500 outlets in 70 Chinese cities.

BOCOG plans to crack down on the unlicensed Olympic products that are on sale in Beijing and other cities, Yuan said.

Helicopters, Mobile Security Centers to Monitor Games

Police helicopters and mobile communications centers will provide high-technology security monitoring at next year''s Olympics, says BOCOG security chief Liu Shaowu.

Helicopter patrols will begin in June 2008 and will coordinate security surveillance with plain clothes officers deployed on the ground near more than 100 Olympic-related venues and other key sites in the city, Liu said.

The unmarked vehicles housing the mobile security command centers will use radio and wireless communications, as well as microwave and satellite imaging, he said.

BOCOG will begin recruiting thousands of security volunteers this month from military and police colleges to assist the fully trained officers in jobs such as security checks

"We aim at not only ensuring the Olympic Games'' security through tightened security measures, but constructing a Games-period peaceful atmosphere, so that people are not likely to see the armed police," Liu said.

The 20 test events and other sports competitions scheduled for Beijing in the second half of 2007 will test Beijing''s Olympic facilities, services, and security plans.

Emergency security drills will take place during some of the events to prepare for next year''s Games, he said.

Bibles in Hotels

Providing Bibles in hotel rooms will help meet the religious needs of athletes and tourists during the Olympics says an official of the China Patriotic Catholic Association.

"The Bible is a must at hotel rooms in foreign countries, especially European countries," said Liu Bainian, vice-president of the state-sponsored organization at the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People''s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing.

"The service can help clear up foreigners'' misunderstandings of China in the area of religion," Xinhua news agency quotes Liu.

The association Liu represents is the organization which is charged with overseeing the Catholic Church in China, which puts the association at odds with the Vatican.

Chinese-speaking Volunteers Sought

Beijing will open recruitment of volunteers worldwide this month but applicants must speak Chinese, BOCOG Executive Vice President Li Binghua says.

"We welcome overseas volunteers to join us, but they should at least speak some Chinese and can talk to us in the language," the official Xinhua news ag

Chinese embassies will help handle the foreign volunteer applications.

BOCOG aims to recruit up to 100,000 Games volunteers and has already received 350,000 applications from within China since last August.

Some of the applicants are from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or other foreign countries, Li said.

At least 5,000 professional volunteers are needed to provide interpretation and company services for VIPs during the Games, he said.

Champion Speed-Skater Banned over Criticism

China''s Winter Sports Administrative Center has banned Olympic champion speed-skater Wang Meng from from competing at the world short-track championships and world team championships this month, after she criticized a top official.

The ban came in response to Wang''s attack on new team coach Li Yan during the Asian Winter Games in January.

"Wang Meng''s improper comments about the team''s head coach during the Asian Games had a negative effect on the whole team," the center said in a statement.

"The center has asked her to reflect deeply on the mistakes and make a written apology," it said.

Wang, 21, won the 500-meters short-track gold in Turin. But she threatened to quit the Chinese team after winning only a bronze in the women''s 1,500 meters at the Asian Winter Games, blaming Li for a "lack of race tactics". Wang accepted the punishment and later apologized for her comments, state media said.

Li, who coached American short-track star Apolo Anton Ohno, began working with the Chinese team last May.

Reported from Beijing by Bill Smith

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