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China Open Signs Historic Sponsorship Deal With SOHU.COM
BEIJING, China, July 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- China Open and SOHU.COM , China's leading online media, communications, commerce and mobile value-added services company, have entered into a five- year sponsorship agreement for the first-ever China Open tennis championship to debut in the Olympic Capital Beijing from September 10 - 26, 2004. Under this agreement, SOHU has become the Official Media Partner, Wireless Content Provider and Website of China Open, making it one of the main tournament sponsors.
"We are very pleased to have entered into this landmark agreement with SOHU, which is one of the most successful Internet companies in China and at the cutting-edge of the new technologies available to the Chinese public. They have tremendous management ability and will add great value to China Open," said Mr. Lincoln Venancio, Tournament Director of China Open.
Under this five-year agreement, SOHU wins the exclusive right to host, develop and operate the Official China Open website and develop affiliated online fan clubs. China Open also grants SOHU the exclusive right to webcast daily highlights and post-match player interviews at the Official China Open website and get access to 'behind the scene' footage of China Open, such as at the player lounge and practice court. During the Event SOHU has the exclusive right to host two daily online chat sessions with China Open players.
In addition, SOHU has been designated the exclusive partner to offer the Chinese public wireless live scores, Event related news, pictures, audio and video content on short messaging services (SMS), multimedia messaging services (MMS), wireless application protocol (WAP) and interactive voice response (IVR).
"We are pleased to have been selected as the exclusive Online and Wireless Content Provider of China Open. We take pride in delivering the excitement of sport to Internet users. Through this partnership SOHU gains valuable access to exclusive sports content for the game of tennis in the years leading up to the Olympic Games in 2008 and beyond. It helps to further distinguish SOHU as the leading Internet player in China," said Dr. Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of SOHU.COM.
China Open will attract over 300 top ranking international players in multiple competitions for men, women, junior and senior in singles and doubles. It aims to become one of the world's top 5 tennis tournaments and one of Asia's premier sport events, while contributing to Beijing's readiness for hosting large sports events ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.
"As the host city for 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing welcomes more and more international sports events. China Open really represents the City as its "Name Card" and brings more benefits to the city." Said Sun Kanglin, Director of the Sports and Physical Culture Bureau of Beijing Municipality, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China Open Organizing Committee.
"We believe the partnership between SOHU and China Open will be effective in bringing the world's top players participating in China Open closer to their millions of fans around China and further raising the profile of tennis ahead of the landmark 2008 Olympic Games," commented Victor Koo, President and COO of SOHU.COM.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. We may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in our periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, etc., in our annual report to shareholders, in our proxy statements, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by our officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that the events described in this press release should not be interpreted as having any material effect on SOHU's revenues or profitability.
We further caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, SOHU's historical and possible future losses, limited operating history, uncertain regulatory landscape in the People's Republic of China, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, and the company's reliance on online advertising sales, e-subscriptions (most of which are collected from a few telecom operators) and e-commerce for its revenues. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in SOHU's Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2003, Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About SOHU
SOHU.COM is China's premier online brand and indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese who use the portal network for their news, search, e-mail, wireless messaging, instant messaging, browsing, games and shopping. SOHU has built one of the most comprehensive matrix of web properties in China, consisting of the mass portal and leading online media destination http://www.sohu.com/; the #1 online alumni club http://www.chinaren.com/; #1 games portal http://www.17173.com/; top real estate website http://www.focus.cn/ and wireless value- added services provider http://www.goodfeel.com.cn/ . This network of web properties offers the vast SOHU user community the broadest possible choices regarding information, entertainment, communication and commerce. SOHU.COM, established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China's Internet pioneers, is in its eighth year of operation.
About China Open
China Open will be played at the newly-built Beijing Tennis Center with an over 10,000 seats Center court. The Event is organized under the authority of the General Administration of Sport of China and Beijing Municipal Government. The China Open Organizing Committee is headed by Minister of General Administration of Sport of China Yuan Weimin and Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan. Top players already confirmed to participate include former US Open champion Marat Safin, former French Open champions Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, former Wimbledon Finalist David Nalbandian, world top 5 Rainer Schuettler, Asia's best Paradorn Srichaphan and 17-year-old sensation Rafael Nadal.
You may also log on China Open FTP site for photos and electronic files: ftp://210.245.168.132/
User name: chinaopen
Password: CHINAOPEN
For further information, please contact:
Caroline Straathof
SOHU Investor Relations and Communications
Tel: +86 10 6510 1379
E-mail: ir@sohu-inc.com
http://www.sohu.com/about/English/
Ms. Mary May
PR Director, China Open
Tel: (86) 10 6526 8800 ext.7090
Fax: (86) 10 8518 1222
Email: marymay@chinaopen.cn
SOHU.com
CONTACT: Caroline Straathof of SOHU Investor Relations andCommunications, +86 10 6510 1379, ir@sohu-inc.com; Ms. Mary May, PR Directorof China Open, +86 10 6526 8800 ext.7090, or fax, +86 10 8518 1222,marymay@chinaopen.cn
Web site: http://www.sohu.com/about/English
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