Guangzhou Asiad notches sponsorship record

GUANGZHOU: Organizers of the 16th Asian Games are hailing the biggest sponsorship in the event's history, 500 days out from the opening ceremony, an official with the organizing committee said yesterday.

"We have made remarkable achievements ... in terms of marketing development since the organizing committee was authorized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to be independently responsible," Liu Jiangnan, deputy general secretary of the Games' organizing committee, said. "I can tell you the total fund so far is five times the amount collected by the organizing committee of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar," he added, refusing to reveal the total sponsorship funds.

In the past, the OCA has managed Asian Games marketing, Liu said.