The first authorized retail outlet for Beijing
Olympics merchandise outside the Chinese mainland opened for
business on Friday in Macao.
The shop is in the offices of Bank of China (BOC)
on Almeida Ribeiro Avenue in the busy city center, not far from the
World Heritage-listed Historical City Center of Macao.
According to Xu Chen, BOC's Beijing Olympics Office Director,
the main reason why the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008
Games (BOCOG)
chose Macao instead of Hong Kong is that Macao's popularity as a
tourist destination for many Chinese communities should help boost
sales of Olympics merchandise.
Xu said the types of souvenirs available and stock inventory
would mainly depend on initial sales volumes and estimated
demands.
Future supply will also be determined by consumer preference and
factory output back on the mainland, he added.
Along with many other items bearing their images and the Beijing
Olympics emblem, the five cute plush mascots, also known as The
Friendlies, are being manufactured under extremely tight
supervision by a small number of toy factories considered the best
in the trade.
The BOCOG has vowed to ensure quality products, and protection
of intellectual property rights even if that means a temporary
short supply in the market.
(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2006)