BEIJING-- The Beijing Olympic sponsors have given sufficient support after the deadly May 12 earthquake that hit central China's Sichuan province.
Worldwide partners of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) such as Coca-Cola and Lenovo, as well as Olympic sponsors like New Auto Group have made plenty of donations in cash or material to the quake-stricken areas.
Up to now, both partners and sponsors have altogether donated over 600 million yuan (about US$87 million).
Company staff, Chinese and foreigners, also donated either money or blood to the disaster victims.
These companies include Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, General Electric, Lenovo, Manulife-Sinochem, McDonald's, OMEGA, Panasonic, Samsung, VISA, Bank of China, China Netcom, Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Mobile, Volkswagen, Johnson & Johnson, Adidas, Air China, PICC, State Grid, UPC, Haier Group, Budweiser, Sohu, Yili Group, Yanjing Beer Group, BHP Billiton, Hengyuanxiang Group, Unif, COFCO, Wilmar International Group (JinLongYu), Zhejiang Mengna Knitting Co., Zhengzhou Synear Food Company, Beifa Group, Zhongshan Vantage Co., Yadu Science & Technology Co., Shunde Empire Furniture Group, Staples, Crystal Digital Technology Co., Yuan-pei Translation, Aokang Group, Libai Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Microsoft (China), KOKUYO, New Auto Group, etc.
Apart from cash, these Olympic sponsors have also donated materials in need or mobilized professionals to offer aid to the disaster areas.
Yili Group delivered two tons of milk within two hours after the quake. Samsung offered disaster relief materials with value of one million yuan (about US$150,000). McDonald's (Sichuan) has provided food to victims, rescue teams, medical workers, soldiers, police and firemen as well. Haier Group sent a rescue team of 50 people to the disaster areas, bringing relief materials.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said the Olympic Games is a global sports gala rather than an event, adding the Olympic sponsors have made positive contribution to the Games.
