BEIJING, CHINA, JANUARY 16, 2007 -- GE, a worldwide sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, has signed contracts to make significant contributions to more than 150 projects addressing infrastructure needs for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games including security, plastics, energy, lighting and water treatment. GE continues to bid on many projects in Beijing to demonstrate its capability to provide complete solutions for the 2008 Games and its commitment to help Beijing host the largest, most technologically advanced Olympic Games ever.
"As one of the 12 worldwide partners of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), GE is uniquely positioned to provide an extraordinary range of innovative products and services that are integral to the staging of the Olympic Games," said Steve Bertamini, Chairman & CEO GE Greater China. "We are a company that is equipped to handle complex, large-scale projects and there is no event that requires a greater number of infrastructure solutions than the Olympic Games."
Thus far, GE has contributed to the Beijing Organizing Committee's (BOCOG) goal of staging an environmentally sound Olympic Games through providing cutting-edge energy and water treatment technology. Some examples include supplying the natural gas combined-cycle turbines that will deliver power, heating and cooling to the Olympic Central Area; and improving the city's waste water treatment capabilities with a technologically advanced membrane system that will filter over 80,000 cubic meters of waste water daily to be recycled in support of Olympic landscaping.
"We expect the Beijing Games to be a commercial success for GE," said Jim Fisher, President of GE Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Solutions. "We are on track to achieve our sales goal of USD 700-800 million and GE is working actively with the Chinese government and BOCOG to maximize our contribution to the Games." In addition, Fisher said, "Not only is Beijing aiming for a 'Green Olympic Games,' but addressing environmental issues is clearly a major concern across the globe. With that in mind, we continue to develop new technologies that can help host cities achieve their vision of an environmentally friendly Games."
In cooperation with the IOC and BOCOG, GE is providing integral systems for three of the signature Olympic venues, namely, power distribution systems and lighting systems for the National Stadium ("Bird's Nest"), sports lighting systems for the National Aquatics Center ("Water Cube"), and advanced lighting and Uninterruptible Power System (UPS) for the BOCOG building. GE also is supplying power solutions and security systems to the National Convention Center, power distribution systems to the Laoshan Velodrome and Beijing Shooting Range Hall, and energy solutions for the Beijing Power Supply Bureau.
Olympic organizers have further utilized GE technologies for security systems for visitors and spectators during the Games. The challenges have been diverse: providing the first baggage screening equipment in China capable of detecting explosives for Beijing Airport Terminal 3; providing monitoring systems to upgrade subway security during the Games; installing advanced fire alarm and security monitoring systems in Beijing Subway line 1; furnishing complete security and monitoring systems for Fengtai Softball Field and the National Convention Center at the Olympic Green; and supplying traffic monitoring and lighting systems to increase safety on Beijing's roads.
With less than 30 percent of all Olympic projects out to bid at this point, GE has already made significant contributions in the transportation systems, energy, water, lighting and plastics sectors. "GE has been in China for more than 100 years and has 12,000 employees in China. Our participation in the Beijing Games is an integral part of our global growth strategy," concluded Bertamini. "We are determined to leverage the Olympic Games platform to help GE broaden and deepen its solid relationship with the Chinese government and all of our Chinese customers."
GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
Geoff Li
Geoff Li
GE Global Operations
[email protected]
*517-3046