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Budweiser to be intl. beer sponsor for Beijing Olympics
MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and Anheuser-Busch, Inc. today announced that Budweiser will be the official “international beer sponsor” to support the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
BOCOG vice president and secretary general Wang Wei, Anheuser-Busch Cos CEO and president Patrick Stokes and IOC representatives were present at the press conference, where the same was announced.
As part of the sponsorship, Anheuser-Busch has rights to use the 2008 Olympic Games logo for promotional purposes in China and 29 other countries around the world. This marks Anheuser-Busch’s first sponsorship of a summer Olympic Games held outside the US.
Anheuser-Busch Companies CEO and president Patrick Stokes & Beijing Organizing Committee vice president and secretary general Wang Wei at the press conference to announce Budweiser’s official international beer sponsorship of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
“The development of the Olympic marketing program in the past two decades has proven that a closer relationship between the IOC, the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and the business community constitutes a vital guarantee for the success of an Olympic Games. The participation of companies with international brand names has laid a solid material groundwork for a successful Olympic Games, and the Olympic platform, on the other hand, provides an important and rare opportunity for these companies to build up their corporate images on an international basis,” Wang Wei said.
“China is the most important international market for Anheuser-Busch, and Budweiser’s sponsorship of the 2008 Olympic Games reinforces our commitment to supporting the communities where we do business. We’re proud to support the Olympic movement in China and wish the best of luck to the China Olympic Team as they compete for gold in Beijing,” Stokes said.
Budweiser will support its sponsorship of the 2008 Olympic Games by using the official marks on packaging, point-of-sale materials, sales promotions, branded merchandise and other marketing programs. Budweiser has been an official sponsor of the China Olympic Team since 2000.
The agreement also extends Budweiser’s sponsorship of the China Olympic Team through 2008. To underscore Budweiser’s support of the team, Wei, Stokes and Anheuser- Busch vice president, global media and sports marketing Tony Ponturo, honored athletes GUO Jingjing (diving), LI Xiaopeng (gymnastics) and MA Lin (table tennis) with a gift in celebration of their recent medal-winning performances in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
In addition to the 2008 Olympic Games, Budweiser is also the “official beer” sponsor of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Anheuser-Busch’s brands also serve as “official beer” sponsors of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), extending its support of the US Olympic Team through 2008. Anheuser-Busch is the exclusive malt-beverage advertiser for all Olympic Games telecasts in the United States through 2008.
Budweiser has been an Olympic supporter since 1984 when the brand was the “official beer” sponsor of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Budweiser also was the “official beer” sponsor of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
