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OLYMPIC SUPPLIER PROGRAMME LAUNCHED FOR BEIJING

Beijing Olympic organisers have launched their Supplier Programme, the third tier of the 2008 Olympic sponsorship programme.

It includes selections of 'exclusive suppliers' and 'suppliers', according to the Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG).

Exclusive suppliers will enjoy exclusive corresponding marketing rights and benefits in their own field, while suppliers have to share the rights with other suppliers in the same field.

Ticketing services, office equipment, stationery, furniture, sports facilities, candy, wine and tyre are the categories potential suppliers can come from, reports The People's Daily Online.

The marketing programme consists of three tiers: partners, sponsors and suppliers.

Up until now, 10 partners have been signed up - Bank of China, China Network, Sinopec, CNPC, China Mobile, Volkswagen, adidas, Johnson & Johnson, Air China and PICC P&C.

The seven contracted sponsors are UPS, Haier, Sohu, Yili Dairy Group, Tsingtao Beer, Yanjing Beer and BHP Billiton.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) predicts that Beijing 2008 is likely to break the record set in Los Angeles in 1984 for the most profitable Games in history.