Twelve Best Athletes Honored at TOM Online Sports Awards

Twelve Best Athletes Honored at TOM Online Sports Awards

BEIJING, Dec. 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- You remember their sweat, tears and joy; by trying their utmost to honor their country as they competed on the field in front of the world they have endeared themselves to all Chinese. On the evening of December 21, some of China's finest sportspeople were in turn honored for their quest to be faster, higher and stronger as they once again stepped into the spotlight in the inaugural TOM Online Sports Awards Gala.

Twelve of China's most famed and respected athletes including top hurdler Liu Xiang, air rifle sharp shooter Du Li, diving queen Guo Jingjing, Chinese women's volleyball team's head coach Chen Zhonghe and China's No. 1 golfer Zhang Lianwei were presented the awards in the star-studded event in Beijing, which was held by China's leading wireless Internet company TOM Online Inc. and jointly organized by Asia's leading regional broadcaster Phoenix Satellite Television, China's largest sports newspaper Sports Weekly and the Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation.

Other winners, out of a list of 60 top-flight candidates, included star swimmer Luo Xuejuan, pommel-horse Olympic gold medalist Teng Haibin, veteran marksman and multiple Olympic gold medalist Wang Yifu, all-rounded gymnast Li Xiaopeng and China women's volleyball team's captain Feng Kun as millions of voters cast their votes online, by phone and through media such as newspapers to show their support for their sporting heroes.

Wang Lei Lei, TOM Online Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, said at the event: "Chinese athletes have created some of the most wondrous legends in the sporting world in 2004, stories that have touched our hearts and inspired and united all of us. As a representative of China's new generation of media companies, TOM Online feels it is obliged to recapture those moments, magnify them and praised them in its own way with the rightful honor they deserve."

Wang Jiyan, Executive Vice President of Phoenix Satellite Television and Head of Phoenix Chinese Channel said: "Our cooperation with TOM Online, Sports Weekly and the Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation in holding this event not only serves to highlight our praises for what Chinese athletes have achieved in 2004; the athletes' determination to excel also embodies the corporate culture of Phoenix."

Qu Youyuan, President and Chief Editor of Sports Weekly, said: "2004 was a glorious and magical year for China's sports achievements; it was also a year when a new generation of athletes takes to the center stage. In the past year, Sports Weekly and TOM Online have formed strategic alliance on covering major sporting events around the world. Like the achievements attained by Chinese athletes this year, I believe the success of TOM Online Sports Awards Gala is also unprecedented."

Li Ning, President of The Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation, said: "As we look back to the past year, what Chinese athletes have achieved on the world stage and in the Olympics have made all of us proud to be Chinese. The athletes are the sporting heroes in 2004 and they deserve nothing but the full support from all of us. The Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation is an organization that offers precisely such support to the balanced development of all athletes."

More than one million votes have been received since voting commenced on November 8. The award gala, the largest marketing event held by TOM Online since its dual listings on Nasdaq and Hong Kong Growth Enterprise Market board, is set to reinforce its brand as the favorite portal of the young and trendy in China.

In an effort to help raise funds for the academic education of sportspeople in China, an exciting auction of memorabilia donated by the night's sporting heroes was held on Internet auction website, eBay. With a starry line-up of presenters including celebrities from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong such as pop idol Miriam Yeung and Li Yundi, grand prize winner of Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, and performances by well-known entertainers, the evening proved to be one truly worthy of remembrance.

Elaine Feng, TOM Online Executive Vice President and Executive Director, said: "As a representative of China's fast-growing Internet portal industry and the leader in the provision of online content such as sports and entertainment, TOM Online has once again demonstrated its strong support for China's sports industry by hosting this event. It has not only reinforced TOM Online's image as a young and energetic company, but also consolidate our standing as the gauge of popular cultures in China."

About TOM Online Inc.

TOM Online Inc. (Nasdaq: TOMO; HK GEM stock code: 8282) is a leading wireless Internet company in China providing value-added multimedia products and services. A premier online brand in China targeting the young and trendy demographic, the company's primary business activities include wireless Internet services, online advertising and commercial enterprise solutions. The company offers an array of services such as SMS, MMS, WAP, wireless interactive voice response services, content channels, search and classified information, free and fee-based advanced email and online games. As of September 30, 2004, TOM Online is the only portal in China that enjoyed a top three ranking in every wireless Internet service segment.

TOM Online is a subsidiary of TOM Group Limited ("TOM Group"), one of the leading Chinese language media groups in the Greater China region. TOM Group's diverse operations span five media sectors: the Internet (through TOM Online Inc.), outdoor (through TOM Outdoor Media Group), publishing, sports and TV & entertainment.

For enquiries:
Rico Ngai, Corporate Communications (International)
TOM Online Inc.
Tel: +86 (10) 6528-3399 Ext 6940
Mobile: +86 139-118-95354
Fax: +86 (10) 8518-1169
E-mail: ricongai@bj.tom.com

Tan Xiaoqing, Corporate Communications (Mainland China)
TOM Online Inc.
Office tel: +86 (10) 6528-3399 Ext 6768
Fax: +86 (10) 8518-1169
E-mail: tanxiaoqing@bj.tom.com


Source: TOM Online Inc.

CONTACT: Rico Ngai, Corporate Communications (International), Tel:
+86-(10)-6528-3399 Ext. 6940, Mobile: +86-139-118-95354, Fax:
+86-(10)-8518-1169, ricongai@bj.tom.com, or Tan Xiaoqing, Corporate
Communications (Mainland China), Office tel: +86-(10)-6528-3399 Ext. 6768,
Fax: +86 (10) 8518-1169, tanxiaoqing@bj.tom.com, both of TOM Online Inc.


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