Lenovo, a global leader in the PC market, Worldwide Partner of the
Olympic Torch Relay and sponsor of the Olympic Games, launched the first
of three online auctions taking place in the United States. The auctions
are part of a global online Olympic philanthropic auction counting down
to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Just as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will travel around the
world, a new Lenovo auction is beginning each week in a different
country counting down to the Olympic Games. The auction features
limited-edition, notebook PCs inspired by the Lenovo-designed Beijing
2008 Olympic Torch. The notebooks also feature the autographs of beach
volleyball Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
Recently announced Torch Relay items also designed by Lenovo that share
the same theme and inspiration include the lantern that will carry the
flame around the world and the cauldron lit at the end of the relay day
in each city.
Over the next ten days, a “Cloud of Promise”-themed
notebook PC will be available for bidding at www.lenovohopefundauctions.com.
The limited-edition notebook PC, autographed by Misty May-Treanor and
Kerri Walsh, gives fans the opportunity to bid and own a part of Olympic
history. The remaining two auctions in the US will begin on July 8th
and July 29th.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction will be distributed
through the Lenovo Hope Fund to select philanthropies, including Right
to Play. In the spirit of Lenovo’s sponsorship
of the Olympic Games, the program will concentrate on microfinance,
small- and medium-enterprise development and bringing sports to
communities of children.
“We are thrilled to offer fans the unique
opportunity to own these one-of-a-kind Olympic torch themed notebook PCs,”
said Deepak Advani, senior vice president and chief marketing officer,
Lenovo.” Just as our technology helps bridge
the physical gaps among different parts of the world, Lenovo’s
goal is to do the same through social investments. In the Olympic spirit
of internationalism and cooperation, it is fitting that these Olympic
torch-themed notebook PCs should benefit worthy causes.”
The global auction is taking place in: Japan, Australia, UK, France,
Russia, Hong Kong, Argentina, China, India, Brazil and Canada. In the
final week leading up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, 12 notebook
PCs, one from each of the participating countries, will be auctioned to
conclude the program. A total of 34 limited edition Lenovo notebook PCs
will be auctioned around the world. Many of these which will be
autographed by Lenovo Champions – athlete
ambassadors including:
Gail Emms, badminton, Great Britain, 2004 Olympic silver medalist
Libby Lenton, swimming, Australia, 2004 Olympic gold and bronze
medalist
Eamon Sullivan, swimming, Australia, 2004 Olympian
Adam van Koeverden, canoe/kayak, Canada, 2004 Olympic gold and bronze
medalist
Liu Xiang, track and field, China, 2004 Olympic gold medalist
Xavier Rohart, sailing, France, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
Shingo Suetsugu, sprinter, Japan, 2004 Olympian
“As part of our partnership with Lenovo,
Misty and myself are excited to offer fans the chance to own a piece of
Olympic history and contribute to philanthropies around the world,”
said Kerri Walsh.
The auction will live on a Lenovo micro-site –
www.lenovohopefundauctions.com.
Each bidder will be directed to a country specific listing where they
will find additional information about the notebook PC and bidding
process in their native language. Bidders will be pre-qualified to bid
in US dollars through Kompolt, an on-line auction agency focused on
creating successful high-value, high-profile promotional and charity
auctions. Due to export restrictions and policies, the Olympic
torch-themed notebook PCs may only be purchased for use in their
designated country.
Like the “Cloud of Promise”
on which the design is based, the notebook cover features striking
swirls of silver against a pure red base color. Because computer
configurations and ability to sell vary by market, Lenovo has added the
Lenovo Olympic Torch-themed design to notebook PCs in the markets for
which they are configured in order to create this global auction. The
product for auction will be the Lenovo 3000 V200 notebook with the
special Olympic Torch-themed cover. In China, the product being offered
will be the Lenovo Tianyi F21 notebook with Olympic Torch-themed cover.
About the Lenovo Olympic Torch Notebook
Design
Lenovo’s award-winning design team spent more
than 10 months on the design of the torch. Altogether, more than 30
Lenovo design specialists were involved in the torch project. The team
was truly multinational, including designers from Germany, Singapore,
US, Japan, New Zealand, Italy and China. For its winning torch design,
the Lenovo Innovation Design Center group employed a number of
innovative materials and techniques, from precision-machining an
aluminum-magnesium alloy into the scroll-shaped curves of the torch
body, to using rubberized paint for the first time ever in an Olympic
torch to provide the sensation of one hand gripping another. Like the “Cloud
of Promise,” on which the design is based,
the notebooks are characterized by striking swirls of regal red against
a pure silver base color, a contrast representative of the traditional
Chinese concern for balance and harmony.
About the Lenovo Hope Fund
The Lenovo Hope Fund is a donor-advised philanthropic fund created by
Lenovo Group and managed through the Triangle Community Foundation. The
mission of the Lenovo Hope Fund is to support the creation and growth of
new businesses in distressed communities around the world, as well as
innovative nonprofit organizations that serve these communities.
About the Lenovo TOP Sponsorship
In addition to its role as the designer of the Beijing 2008 Olympic
torch and Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Lenovo is also
the technology hardware supplier for the 2008 Games. Nearly every aspect
of the management of the Games, from gathering and storing participant
data to displaying the scores to organizing all activities for BOCOG,
depends on hardware provided by Lenovo. The company was also the
Technology Equipment supplier for the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games,
where Lenovo hardware supported critical Games systems as well as
specially designed Internet lounges for athletes and journalists.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world’s
best engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s
business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and
customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging
markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition
of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops,
manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure and easy-to-use
technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research
centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and
Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com.
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