China

Nike Brand President Charlie Denson labelled Beijing 2008 “the best Olympic games Nike has ever had. And that's by a considerable amount.”

The IOC is hoping that the success of the Beijing Games will lead to lucrative TV rights deals in China for the 2010 and 2012 Games.

According to US reports, surveys by Nielsen Media Research indicate that up to 96 percent of Chinese TV households have tuned into some portion of the Olympics, which can be seen on seven different channels operated by CCTV.

Chinese authorities received 77 applications from would-be demonstrators trying to use the special Olympic protest zones set up for the Beijing Games - but did not approve any of them, according to The Financial Times.

Ticket prices for the swimming finals at the Beijing Olympics, which could see US swimmer Michael Phelps win a record eighth gold medal, are soaring.

Organisers of the Beijing Olympics have admitted that they are using volunteers to fill empty seats at competition venues, UK newspaper the Guardian reports.

Advertisers will spend more than $400 million on television commercials in China during the Beijing Olympics, according a new media forecast.

China will stage the most expensive opening ceremony in Olympic history today.

Public interest in the 2008 Olympic Games in Europe, Russia and Japan is declining, according to a new study by German market analysts Sport + Markt.

Sports marketing company, IMG Worldwide, has agreed an exclusive 20-year deal with China’s national television broadcaster, CCTV, to develop and market new sports events.

The IOC has held talks with the organisers of Beijing 2008 to address the ‘internet access problems’ which were experienced this week by media in the Olympic Games Main Press Centre in Beijing.

The chairman of Olympic sponsor, Lenovo, has said that its marketing campaign should not be affected by the controversies leading up to the 2008 Beijing Game.

Blocks on internet sites in the Main Press Centre in Beijing and other Olympic venues have not been removed, according to broadcasters.

ESPN STAR Sports has appointed Wong Swee Teng at the new managing director and chief representative of ESS China.

The Olympic village, which will house athletes and officials during next month's Beijing Games, has been officially opened by the Village's Mayor Chen Zhili, according to UK press reports.

Police had to call in reinforcements yesterday as thousands of people descended on ticket booths in Beijing to get their hands on the last batch of Olympic tickets.