AFP reports that sponsors of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games are getting concerned about the recent protests, but are even more worried about offending Beijing’s rulers.
Damien Ryan, a Hong Kong-based media advisor with Ryan Financial Communications said, “the Chinese government is the gatekeeper to 1.3 billion potential consumers so they are choosing their words carefully. Nobody wants to say a word that would be used against them down the road”.
Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenova, sponsors of the torch relay as well as top Olympic sponsors, and other firms, have shown no signs of wavering publicly on backing the torch relay or the Games, but privately they are worried, according to western marketing experts in Beijing.
According to AFP they have appointed crisis management teams, increased their budgets for media consultants, and have been in private talks with Beijing 2008, which has invited sponsors to Beijing for talks later this month.
Meanwhile the official Beijing 2008 website launched a new Spectators page Wednesday which offers increased levels of service and functionality. The addition includes an integrated e-map and practical city guides, comprehensive content and information services, which will benefit users.
According to the official Beijing 2008 website users will be able to look up data on the e-map of Beijing, which includes subway routes, food and drink, shopping, sights, banks, hospitals and post offices.
The new Spectators page also has updated Information on the six Olympic co-host cities of Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.
