Tencent has signed an eight-year deal to become the exclusive internet outlet of the Chinese Olympic Committee at major international sports events.
Under the agreement, the China Daily newspaper said the COC will supply Tencent with exclusive athlete interviews and content from 20 events, including the 2014 and 2018 winter Olympics, the 2016 and 2020 summer Olympics and two Asian Games in 2014 and 2019.
Tencent gains the rights to use the official branding and markings of COC when marketing and promoting its brand under the longest deal of its kind between the national committee and a media organisation.
Having grown to become China’s most-used internet service portal since its foundation in 1998, Tencent has invested heavily in sports coverage from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games onwards.
During London 2012, just shy of 70 per cent of China’s mobile phone customers are said to have regularly visited its dedicated Olympic channel.