Rio Olympics: ‘Made in China’ will be everywhere

Olympics

Replicas of millions of this year’s official Olympic mascots, Vinicius and Tom, have already been shipped from its manufacturing base in China to Brazil. (AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV)

China is not only sending 416 of its best athletes to Rio but also dispatching hundreds and thousands of Chinese-made products that will be an integral part of the Olympics.

It is asserting its position as a manufacturing giant making it nearly impossible to miss the “Made in China” products, even 17,300 kilometers (10,750 miles) away from Rio.

And while the Brazilian city has been marred by issues — sanitary, security and incomplete infrastructure, among others — the Chinese products are aiming to take the spotlight away from the problems and add a festive feel to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Here is a list of some Chinese exports to Brazil, especially for the Olympics.

OLYMPIC METRO TRAINS
Ahead of the games on Friday, Rio inaugurated a new railway line on its underground network this week. All the carriages on the Line 4 metro, also called the Olympic Line, are manufactured by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation.

The new line, with five stations covering 16 kilometers (10 miles), will connect Rio with the Olympic Park neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca. The new service will cut commuting time from downtown Rio to the Olympic Park by about 30 minutes.

The metro line can transport 300,000 people per day while reducing traffic pressure on the road. The city aims to slash 4,000 cars at peak times during the mega sporting event.

OLYMPIC UNIFORMS
This year, the German sports outfit company Adidas is being replaced by a Chinese company at the Olympics.

361°, a Chinese sportswear company, is the first from the country to produce official uniforms for nearly 100,000 Olympic and Paralympic staff and volunteers.

The company’s production standards were evaluated by the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee before it was given the task.

All the national flags that will be hoisted during the ceremony are made in China.

OLYMPIC SOUVENIRS
No event would be complete without the souvenirs that people can take home. And Chinese companies have taken the task of making those memories.

Replicas of millions of this year’s official Olympic mascots, Vinicius and Tom, have already been shipped from its manufacturing base in China to Brazil.

Apart from the mascots, Beijing Huajiang Culture Development company has also designed and made badges, handicrafts, and 3,000 other souvenirs for the Olympics.

OLYMPIC SECURITY
An estimated half a million people from around the world, along with 11,000 athletes representing their nations, will be in Rio for the Olympics – so safety is extremely important.

Nuctech Co., Ltd, a Chinese security service supplier linked to Tsinghua University, is providing 200 security scanners to ensure security during the Games.

OLYMPIC EQUIPMENT
During the various sporting events, logos of some Chinese brands are going to be unmissable.

For example, in the volleyball court, Jinling Sports is providing a range of volleyball equipment, including nets, the posts, and even the referees’ chairs.

For the weightlifting events, Hebei Zhang Kong Barbell Manufactoring Co., Ltd. has become the sole barbell supplier, breaking the long-standing Japanese monopoly.

And during the opening ceremony, as well as other gaming events, about 1,200 digital interphones made by a Chinese company will be put into use.

OLYMPICS A/C
And last but not the least, a Chinese company is also responsible for keeping the iconic Maracana Stadium cool.

China’s Gree company, which had set up a subsidiary in Brazil in 2011, has provided air conditioning units for the main stadium – and the 73,000-plus people who will be at the stadium during the opening ceremony that will kick off the South America’s first Olympic Games on Aug. 5.