Marketers seek sporting sponsors.

(From Business Daily Update)

Author: Sports sponsorship has become a hot choice for Chinese marketers to enhance the value of their brands and establish a presence on the global market, industry officials said yesterday during a branding forum in Shanghai. Key world-class sports activities, including 2008 Beijing Olympics and Grand Prix racing, have heated up the industry while the outstanding performance of Chinese athletes, Yao Ming in particular, strengthen the value of sponsorship. Sports events also have received greater attention lately. Now more than 16 million Chinese viewers watch NBA games via China Central Television, compared with five years ago when only …