Beijing Draws Largest Ever Australian Business Delegation to Overseas Games

In a major push to leverage an international sporting event, Austrade’s Business Club Australia has brought together government, corporations, industry associations and small and medium enterprises to present a united Australian business front during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

“This is a united push by Australia’s business community to make inroads into the Chinese market during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games” said Austrade CEO Peter O’Byrne.

“We are harnessing the excitement and energy of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to showcase Australia in China. More than 3000 Australian and Chinese businesspeople are expected to attend events at Business Club Australia.

“Australians are great sportspeople, but we are also great businesspeople. This initiative has pulled together key Australian stakeholders and developed a strategy to build our business profile in a key market.

“Through Business Club Australia, Austrade is focused on delivering business outcomes with China – our largest two way trading partner,” said Mr O’Byrne

Business Club Australia is the official business program for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It will use the resources of Austrade’s Chinese network of 15 offices to bring together Australians and key Chinese officials and businesspeople.

Australia is leading the way when it comes to leveraging international sporting events. More than 40 networking and business events are planned during the Games. Most will be at Business Club Australia’s venue at the Hilton Hotel in the heart of Beijing, while some will leverage the excitement of Olympic sporting events to build customer relationships.

At major sporting events including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup 2007 in France, Business Club Australia helped deliver over $1.7 billion in business outcomes.

Source: Austrade

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