2008 Olympic Games

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today announced an agreement with the Beijing Police Bureau to provide its 350MHz TETRA digital trunked radio communications system to support the security needs of the Olympic Games. Beijing is the first city in China to implement a 350MHz TETRA digital trunked radio communication system.

Under the agreement, Motorola will provide the Beijing Police Bureau with a comprehensive TETRA digital trunked radio communication solution that includes 30 base stations, switches, terminals, and additional products and services. The Bureau’s plans to establish a new wireless communication system alongside with its existing wireless network was based on a stringent assessment findings conducted to strengthen, safeguard, and to ensure the complete success of the Olympic Games. As this project involves Olympic Games security tasks, the system is strictly required to provide efficient and reliable support for the Olympic Games.

As the pioneer and global leader in the digital trunked radio communication industry, Motorola has strong capabilities to provide a complete line of products for 350MHz TETRA digital trunked systems, including base stations, switches, terminals and other related accessories. Over the years, Motorola has established several long-term relationships serving many Chinese local entities within the sector and is very experienced in China’s public safety industry. Motorola is a trusted partner and reputable in the industry for providing its customers with a range of customized solutions that include single cluster stations, multi-slot packet data processing, and mobile base stations, among other products and services.

The communications’ department of the Beijing Police Bureau stated, “It is important to use high-quality communications solutions and services to ensure we dispatch effective and reliable radio communications solutions during the Olympic Games. I am pleased that Motorola is able to meet all our needs as it has tremendous experience and sophisticated communications capabilities.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Beijing Police Bureau to provide wireless communication systems and solutions to enhance the Olympics’ security. Motorola has been supporting the needs of mission critical users for Olympics dispatch radio communications since 1972. We provide the most advanced products and services and are highly experienced in digital trunked radio communications for the public security sector worldwide, meeting the stringent needs required by the Beijing Police for a secure Olympics event. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the Beijing Police Bureau a successful mission in handling their security assignments during the Olympic Games. It is our hope for Beijing to succeed in this global event,” said Mr. Chew Hock Siong, General Manager, Government & Public Safety, Enterprise Mobile Solutions, Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd.

As an industry leader, Motorola initiated and strongly advocates the TETRA digital trunked radio communications standard. Motorola has served customers in China’s public security sector for many years. As early as March 2001, Motorola implemented the first 800MHz TETRA digital trunked radio command and communication system on a full IP platform for the Shanghai Metropolitan Police Bureau. With the support of Motorola’s TETRA digital trunked system, the Shanghai Police carried out safe and successful law enforcement for the 2007 Special Olympics World Games, garnering subsequent praise by China’s Ministry of Public Security. In January 2008, Motorola signed a contact with Beijing Central Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection to provide a 350MHz TETRA digital trunked system to support radio communications for exit and entry inspection at the Beijing International Airport.

Source: Motorola, Inc.

HereisChina.com, a professional marketplace to meet more than 2,000 professional inbound tour operators and experts throughout China, announced today the launch of customized trips through their online portal.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) has revealed that during the Olympics, more than 30,000 media delegates representing major press outlets from all over the world will arrive to cover the games and the real China behind them. At the same time, a total of half a million inbound tourists will arrive in Beijing to watch the games and explore China. The hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games will trigger a new wave of interest in China travel around the world. The World Travel Organization has stated the by 2015, China will become the world’s biggest travel destination country with its annual inbound tourists reaching 200 million.

So how will such a big number of inbound tourists organize their travels? The answer is — online booking via the INTERNET! Statistics show that in the European and American countries where the internet has reached the average family, up to 60 percent of tourists use the internet to search and book their trips. This figure will continue to rise as the younger generation grows up in the internet era, which has been called the information age.

However, searching for tour packages in China is a confusing process for people who wish to come to China. Simply typing “China tour” into Google yields too many options, and it’s difficult to tell which services are the best. When people attempt to find China-based tour operators to save on budget, they often find that the tour operators’ websites are poorly designed and provide slow response times. These China-based websites also provide insufficient information.

Foreign sites like Expedia.com, one of the leading online platforms for worldwide tours based in the United States, currently only list a few overpriced China tours on their website. They actually anticipate that they’ll be able to find an online marketplace or platform of China tours based in China.

People can easily get lost or confused, and they often are uninformed about what they should do and what they should avoid. What people searching for China tours need is a way to refine and filter their search, a way to customize their tour packages.

“They will be happy if they discover HereisChina.com,” says Robert Zhang, the founder of HereisChina.com, “We are just the right marketplace they are looking for. On our platform, we integrate thousands of different China tour products at difference budgets, and in different themes. Hundreds of professional China-based tour operators have joined HereisChina.com and uploaded their tours into the marketplace.”

With just a few weeks to go before the Beijing Olympics, Robert, with his ambitious startup team, recently launched the brand new site — HereisChina.com. Besides China tour packages, HereisChina.com also offers total customization of your China tour. If you are planning a tailor-made China tour, simply visit the homepage of http://www.hereischina.com/ and submit an online trip request. Within 24 hours, up to 3 tour operators will respond by email with a proposal and quotation. In this way, you can find the tour operator that works best for you. The responses normally start within 12 hours for clients in North America.

As Robert describes, the technical development team is also adding some new functions to the platform, such as an interactive travel review sharing system, travel blogs and forum, etc. HereisChina.com is also planning to launch a content campaign to motivate those who have traveled in China to contribute their travel reviews and travelogues, so that future users can use these reviews to help them make a decision when comparing tour itineraries and destinations. The more users that the site attracts, the more powerful it will become.

Source: HereisChina.com

The Beijing Olympic Green Convention Centre (BOGCC), located on the Olympic Boulevard and designed by international award winning architects, RMJM, enters a new phase tomorrow as the media facility goes live 24/7 in the run up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

The largest media centre in Olympic history is part of the BOGCC complex that accommodates both the Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcasting Centre (IBC). Occupying more than 150,000 square metres, the MPC and IBC will be home to more than 20,000 accredited journalists, photographers and broadcasters.

The BOGCC complex will also host the Olympic and Paralympics fencing and pentathlon pistol shooting events and comprises of two sports halls. The adjacent hotels in the multi-purpose complex will be used during the Olympic to accommodate some of the visiting media contingent.

“We are delighted to be in Beijing as BOCOG’s media centre begins 24 hour operations tomorrow and marks the final phase to the opening of the summer Olympic Games,” said Peter Morrison, Group Chief Executive Officer of RMJM Group Ltd.

“We are very honoured that RMJM, through our client Beijing North Star Corporation, is a part of the Beijing Olympic legacy and will leave a lasting footprint on the city. We worked closely with Beijing North Star to create a multi use complex that will offer long-term financial sustainability and play a pivotal role in the city’s infrastructure post Games,” he added.

In line with BOCOG’s “Green Olympics” message, RMJM’s design includes systems that make use of natural elements together with a high degree of insulation throughout the building. Green features include the rain water collection on the roof for flushing systems and the irrigation of the surrounding landscape, an ice storage cooling system and a “free air cooling” ventilation system in the public foyers of the convention centre.

Additionally, the BOGCC has been designed to ensure maximum return on investment and the highest rate of commercial viability post Games. The 220,000 square metre main structure is scheduled to reopen as the National Convention Centre of China in 2009.

“Part of the challenge of this assignment was to ensure that the facility had a distinct and viable ’second life’ shortly after the close of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With this in mind, the design ensured that the facility could be retrofitted within a relatively short period of time without huge added expense. Post Games, the complex will accommodate the Plenary Hall, the Convention & Exhibition Centre along with offices, retail, service apartments, a 5-Star hotel and a business hotel,” said RMJM’s Scott Findley, design director, Asia, RMJM.

“As one of the four principal venues on the Beijing Olympic Green Boulevard, the structure is understated and timeless, its roof recalling and celebrating the traditions of its Chinese pagoda. Effortless exuding power and presence, the centre will welcome the people of Beijing and their guests at 8.08pm on 08/08/2008, the date of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games,” Findley said.

Unlike many convention centres, the National Convention Centre’s space has been designed to be highly utilised and a destination in its own right, with its office space, retail and hotels providing year-round interest in the area. The design reflects the Beijing government’s plans for the ongoing regeneration of the north eastern part of the city of Beijing.

The BOGCC is RMJM’s largest public sector design project in China to date and demonstrates the firm’s ongoing commitment to the country.

Source: RMJM Hillier

AAA Spiral China, 1st Edition, offers an in-depth look at this growing tourist destination

The eyes of the world will be on China this August as top athletes from around the globe gather in Beijing to compete in hopes of bringing home the gold. AAA Spiral China, 1st Edition (AAA; ISBN: 978-1-59508-234-3; 214 pages; $17.95 U.S.), offers an opportunity to truly capture this momentous occasion culturally and historically. According to AAA’s International Travel Forecast, China is ranked first in nations expecting to see an increase in travel from the U.S. this summer, up 13.4 percent to approximately 573,000 American travelers.

With colorful photos and descriptive text, the guide takes readers on a tour of this extraordinary country and allows the flavors of this Eastern culture to be seen, felt and experienced. It organizes the vast land by six regions, providing overviews, maps, day-by-day itineraries, ‘Don’t Miss’ lists of attractions and information on where to stay, shop, eat and be entertained. The mysteries and the beauty are well worth exploring, and this guide allows even the armchair spectator a true taste of China.

Many visitors will begin their travels in Beijing, and the city is adorning itself in preparation. Thirty-one of the 37 competition venues are in Beijing and 12 have been built from scratch. Perhaps the most eye-catching is the 100,000 seat National Stadium known as the “giant birds’ nest” on account of its mesh of interlocking steel bands. Officials striving to show the nation’s best face selected the slogan “One World, One Dream” for the Games, reflecting the Olympic spirit, the Chinese hope and an environment in which people live in harmony and cooperation.

Also, with its scores of historic sites and cultural attractions, Beijing is where visitors can best see China portrayed in novels and movies - mighty emperors, grand palaces and more. Topping the Spiral Guide’s ‘Don’t Miss’ list in Beijing are The Forbidden City, off-limits to commoners for more than 500 years, and Tiananmen Square, where peace has replaced revolution. This section also covers the areas north of the city, including the wonder of The Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace, the former resort of royalty.

Travelers interested in Shanghai and eastern China will find insider tips on enjoying the trendy French Concession area, the People’s Square and the sights along the Juangpu River, as well as the ‘water towns’ to the east. Other sections are devoted to Hong Kong and the South, the Southwest, Sichuan and Tibetan China, and the Silk Road.

First time travelers will find information about required documentation, climate and currencies, plus many details about daily life listed in AAA Spiral China. The guide is available at many local AAA offices, online at AAA.com/BarnesAndNoble and at better bookstores.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.

Source: AAA

China’s Magnificent Architectural Achievements and Massive, Aesthetically Pleasing Gardens Expected to Move Tourists After Summer Games

The world will be watching the Olympic Games being hosted in Beijing this August. The sites, excitement and atmosphere are expected to draw many travelers to China for months following the games.

In preparation for this summer’s games, China has invested more than $20 billion in constructing facilities, improving transportation, enhancing city telecommunications and developing environmental attractions. The money invested in building architectural wonders and enormous natural sites like the ‘Birds’ Nest’ stadium and Olympics gardens is expected to generate revenue for China long after the games have ended.

American travelers visiting Beijing after the Olympics will likely spend time at sites of this summer’s games, and a few travel agencies are offering unique itineraries and programs to include attractions like the ‘Cube’ aquatic stadium and Olympic gardens. China Discovery Tours, a California-based travel agency specializing in tours to Asian destinations including China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, will be offering tours to include sightseeing in and around several of this summer games’ attractions.

“We customize tours to fit travelers’ needs and expectations on an on-going basis,” said Craig Hsu, Vice President of China Discovery Tours. “This Fall we are thrilled to take people to sites and attractions they enjoyed viewing during the summer games.”

Beijing, the capital of China, has become a popular destination for Americans. Home to 11 million Chinese, the city is a tribute to China’s rich history, culture, growing economy and spectacular architectural attractions. And with an unprecedented pace of Olympic and non-Olympic development, travelers, more than ever, are likely to visit China’s capital.

“Beijing is a beautiful city that is going to be more spectacular because of the attention-to-detail and effort put into the summer games,” said Hsu. “I cannot wait to see the Olympic gardens and stadiums first-hand.”

ABOUT CHINA DISCOVERY TOURS (http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/) — China Discovery Tours arranges group tours to Asian destinations. The company has 22 years experience negotiating quality group rates with international and domestic (destination country) airlines, first-class hotels and fine restaurants. In 2008, the Better Business Bureau awarded China Discovery Tours its highest AAA rating.

Source: China Discovery Tours

Colombia has appointed Dallas sports chiropractor, Dr. Camille Reagan to serve as a member of its medical team during the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. Dr. Reagan has extensive experience in the international sports arena, having worked with the Costa Rican team for the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“It is a privilege to bring the profession to an international sports platform,” said Dr. Reagan. “The athletes believe that chiropractic care provides them a competitive edge and allows them to perform at a higher level.”

Dr. Reagan’s expertise in the field of sports chiropractic is well recognized by Colombia’s request to have her present at an event as grandiose as the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This year, Colombia will send 66 athletes to compete in 15 events, making this the biggest delegation of athletes to the Olympic Games in the country’s history.

For years, countries around the world have reached out to doctors of chiropractic (DC) from the United States for their expertise in sports chiropractic care. Dr. Reagan received her DC education from Parker College of Chiropractic, located in Dallas, Texas, then went on to earn a Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP) certification, making her an expert in the field. She currently operates Reagan ChiroSport Center, which offers chiropractic care, sports therapy, and overall family wellness services.

Dr. Reagan’s international presence adds to the widespread influence Parker College and its graduates are having on the world. Through the college’s programs, outreach opportunities, and thousands of alumni, regions including South and Central America, as well as countries including Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have all been exposed to the benefits of chiropractic care.

“We are extremely proud of all our graduates who are living and fulfilling Parker College’s mission to spread chiropractic worldwide,” said Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Parker College. “As we begin to serve more people in more countries, chiropractic will have the ability to change more lives.”

Source: Parker College of Chiropractic

Joint Commission International Offers Travel Tips for Those Cheering on Olympians in Beijing

Taking a few precautionary steps can help Americans visiting China for the 2008 Olympic Games go for the gold by avoiding health woes associated with international travel, according to Joint Commission International (JCI). JCI is the international arm of The Joint Commission, and accredits more than 170 hospitals worldwide.

“The adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is a good one to remember any time you’re traveling abroad,” says Karen H. Timmons, CEO, JCI. “By thinking ahead about potential health care needs and treatment options overseas, Americans can stay healthy and enjoy the Games.”

Before leaving for the August 8-24 Olympics, it is important that patients speak with their doctor about the trip and about any specific health risks related to their medical history. This is especially important if a patient has a known condition. Travelers should also review their vaccination history to be sure they are up-to-date on routine shots such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), tetanus, polio, and meningitis. For patients over age 50, a flu shot may also be in order. Although there are no immunizations required to visit China, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies.

Other tips for patients from JCI that can make the difference between a health victory or defeat at the 2008 Games:

• Order double your prescription medications to keep one in carry-on luggage and the other in checked luggage. Keep medications in their regular containers, if possible, and bring the prescription or a doctor’s note.

• Pack a supply of over-the-counter remedies, including drugs that treat motion sickness, headaches and diarrhea. Don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent.

• Beware of traveler’s diarrhea. A good rule for travelers is: Eat it only if you can cook it, boil it or peel it. If not, then avoid it. It’s also important to drink bottled water only and make sure that milk products are pasteurized. If you get traveler’s diarrhea, avoid dairy products and alcohol.

• Bring important medical documents with you. This includes your health insurance card, a brief history of any chronic conditions such as diabetes, or past treatment for specific conditions or illnesses.

• Make sure you’re aware of your existing travel insurance travel policies, and bring copies of the policy with you. Travelers may also want to consider purchasing a supplemental policy for medical evacuations.

• If you require medical care, find a JCI accredited facility. Beijing United Family Hospital is accredited by JCI and is near the Olympic venue. The address is #2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016 PR China. To contact the hospital, call +86(10) 5927 7000 or +86(10) 5927-7120 for emergencies, or visit http://www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com/en_index.asp.

• Contact the hotel concierge, travel tour operator or U.S. Embassy if you need immediate help.

For more health information related to the 2008 Olympics, JCI recommends the following online resources.

• JCI’s Passport to Healthy Travel,http://www.jcrinc.com/fpdf/JCRTravelBrochure-5-15-07.pdf

• CDC’s Health Information for Travelers to China, http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationChina.aspx

• Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease: Traveling to China for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/sdarticle_mod.pdf

Joint Commission International (JCI) was established in 1997 as a division of Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a private, not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation, consultation, publications and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission’s mission worldwide by helping to improve the quality of patient care by assisting international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others evaluate, improve and demonstrate the quality of patient care and enhance patient safety in more than 60 countries.

Source: Joint Commission International

Youku Picked for ‘Celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games’ Video Contest

Youku, China’s leading Internet video website, announced today that it has been selected as the Internet video platform partner for China’s sole official Olympic video contest.

The ”Celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games” Video Contest — the only official, nationally-recognized video contest being held for the Games — will be sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Radio and Television and the Beijing Film and Television Artists Association under the guidance of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee Publicity Department and the Cultural Activities Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG).

Contestants will submit videos of various cultural activities held in celebration of the Olympic Games. A panel of experts with online voting from the public will pick the winners, with all acceptable entries showcased on the Youku website.

Youku’s rock-solid technology platform and excellent track record of operation won the approval of organizers. Youku’s participation represents another important milestone in strategic cooperation for the company, which is solidifying its lead against competitors and creating a distinct brand identity in what was once a crowded field.

The contest will give full play to video media, including television, the Internet, and even in-vehicle flat-panel screens. Works by all participants will become part of the ”2008 Olympic Image Cultural Heritage,” capturing the sights and sounds of the Olympic spirit for posterity, and preserving a nation’s heartfelt passion for a long-anticipated, history-making event.

Youku CEO Victor Koo said, ”We consider it a tremendous honor to provide support for the Olympic video contest. When we were awarded last week with video licenses, we regarded it as evidence that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television approves of Youku’s brand and of our conduct of business. This new partnership demonstrates that as a healthy, high-minded, and broadly-popular website, we’ve managed to gain the trust of other vital governmental departments. With our solid know-how and with our consistent ability to deliver first-rate customer experience, we’re sure to shine as we showcase China’s Olympic culture and spread the Olympic spirit.”

About Youku.com

Youku.com ( http://www.youku.com/ ) is the leading video sharing website and premier online video brand in China. It is one of the top destinations for Chinese people to watch and share videos all over the world. In addition to user-generated content, Youku.com also works with more than 150 professional media partners to distribute online videos in China. Youku.com was officially launched in December 2006 and has grown rapidly since. Youku.com delivers more than 150 million daily video views as of June 2008 and total user time spent exceeded 30 billion minutes per month.

Source: Youku.com