Omega To Award Top Athletes And Journalists

　　Shanghai (September 8) -- Top athletes and journalists alike will be awarded special prizes courtesy of watchmakers Omega for the 2005 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, it was announced today.

　　Omega fully supports China’s first international athletics meeting and Omega China and Hong Kong regional marketing director Elinda Cheng revealed what prizes were in store for athletes and journalists at a press conference.

　　Omega announced that the winner of the men’s 100 metres and the winner of the women’s pole vault will receive an expensive and truly outstanding Omega watch. The Swiss watchmakers know that speed is essential in the men’s 100 metres and strength and height are prerequisites for the pole vault.

　　China’s Favourite Newcomer will also be rewarded and the winner will be voted by the media. The Favourite Overseas Athlete will also be awarded with Omega products.

　　Another prize for athletes will go to China’s Favourite Athlete, who will be voted by the media again.

　　To help promote the best media coverage, Omega will hand out prizes to the best media coverage and the best photo, sponsored by the expert Swiss timepieces again.

　　Omega’s aim is to encourage more reporters from all over the world and China to help boost coverage of China’s inaugural first class athletics meeting, while increase the awareness of the event. Omega hopes to share a common love of the sport with journalists.

　　Contestants can choose their best work and hand it in to organisers, who will judge the best article and photo. Contestants are allowed to hand in two of their best articles/photos.

　　Organisers will choose the winners within one week of the competition and winners will be notified. Winners will receive an expensive and high quality Omega watch.

　　Omega is the world’s largest watch group, incorporating high quality and perfect Swiss timing. It is also the biggest watch distributor and has earned its reputation over the decades for its master craftsmanship and outstanding design.

　　Perfect, successful, prestigious and beautiful – that’s Omega.

　　Omega reached the China market in 1895. This year is the 110th anniversary of its establishment. It has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games no less than 21 times and Omega will again be the official timekeeper of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

　　Omega’s network has reached more than 130 countries and in China and Hong Kong alone, there are 170 retail shops.

　　Omega has made a huge contribution to the watch industry. They are synonymous with honour and prestige and the watchmakers have played an extremely important role in the world of sports.

　　The 2005 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix has been approved by the IAAF and will offer grand prix points in China’s first and most important athletics competition of its kind. It will offer the highest standard of competition in the world with 15 world and Olympic champions confirmed for the showpiece athletics event.

　　The event is organised by the Chinese Athletic Association and Shanghai Sports Federation and managed by the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix Co Ltd and International Athletics Management Ltd and co-managed by the Shanghai East Asia Sports and Recreation Center Co., Ltd.

　　For tickets, please call 86-21-64265678 or 86-21-54076366 or visit the website www.shgoldengp.com for more details.

　　ENDS