GUANGZHOU: Hong Kong enterprises will take an active role in the development of sports venues for and sponsoring the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, a top HK sports official said yesterday.

"Hong Kong has developed a very close relationship with the mainland in the sports sector. Cooperation with the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games will start soon after the Beijing Olympics is over this August," said Timothy Fok, president of the Sports Federation & Olympics Committee of Hong Kong.

Like the Beijing Olympics, the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games will provide an effective platform for Hong Kong enterprises to fully promote their businesses, Fok told China Daily yesterday.

"The Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games means a lot more than just a sporting event to Hong Kong enterprises. It has plenty of business opportunities to tap the mainland market," Fok said.

Fok, who is also the vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), made the remarks after attending a signing ceremony yesterday in the southern mainland city.

Besides sponsoring the Guangzhou Asian Games, Hong Kong enterprises are also encouraged to actively take part in the development of sports venues and urban infrastructure.

"Ahead of 2010, Guangzhou will see a big development of urban infrastructure and sports venues. And I think there will be plenty of business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises," Fok said.

According to Fok, the OCA has, for the first time in the history of the Asian Games, authorized the Organizing Committee of Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games to be independently responsible for the event's market development.

At yesterday's signing ceremony, the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd, which has planned a dual listing in Hong Kong and on the mainland, became the first prestige partner of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.

At the same time, the organizing committee of the Guangzhou Asian Games signed cooperative agreements with eight mainland and overseas companies, including China Telecom, China Mobile and Internet giant Netease.

In addition, the committee launched a sponsorship program yesterday, which encouraged mainland and overseas companies to sponsor the event.

"Today is a very good beginning for the market development program of the Guangzhou Asian Games. And I believe that more enterprises will benefit from sponsoring the event," Fok said.

(HK Edition 04/25/2008 page1)