A textile company in Shanghai that became the first Chinese brand to be named an official sponsor of the Olympics is now setting its sights on 2012 London Games.

"We have contacted the London 2012 Olympic Games to see what we can do for them," said an official from Heng Yuan Xiang (HYX) on condition of anonymity.

The company signed a contract with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) in December 2005, hoping to increase its popularity overseas.

It also looking to maintain a sporting relationship in the future.

Established in 1927, HYX is a household brand in China, but it has not made a similar impact on foreign shores. Officials hope that pegging the company to the world's biggest sporting spectacle will help change this.

"The Olympics is the most popular brand in the world, so when the name Heng Yuan Xiang appears next to this, the company will stand on the same starting line as other world-leading brands," said company chairman Liu Ruiqi. "When that happens, HYX will finally go global."

The company first contacted the Olympic leadership 10 years ago, when Liu presented a gift to Juan Antonio Samaranch, former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), at its headquarter in Lausanne, Switzerland.

At the end of 2005, HYX's Olympic dream was realized when it became an official sponsor for 2008.

According to the contract with BOCOG, HYX will provide funds, formal wear, homeware and other textile products for the Games, the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, BOCOG, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Chinese sports delegations to the Olympic Games.

"It's a great honor for HYX to be selected as an Official Sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and join the elite family of Olympic sponsors," said Liu.

"HYX will carry the Olympic message to every province in the country through our national networks of affiliates, our retail partners and our wholly-owned subsidiaries."