Hong Kong – Businesses in the UK are enthusiastic about the 2012 Olympic Games which start tomorrow in London, according to new research from the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR). However, the reality of hosting the Games doesn’t seem to match expectations when compared to the views of businesses in China, where the last Olympic Games were hosted four years ago.

1. Press release
Enthusiasm among UK businesses on the eve
of the 2012 Olympic Games exceeds
investment pick-up seen by previous host
China
26 July 2012
Hong Kong – Businesses in the UK are enthusiastic about the 2012 Olympic Games which
start tomorrow in London, according to new research from the Grant Thornton International
Business Report (IBR). However, the reality of hosting the Games doesn’t seem to match
expectations when compared to the views of businesses in China, where the last Olympic
Games were hosted four years ago.
61% of businesses in the UK say big sporting events are important for attracting investment to
the economy, while only 38% of businesses in China share the same view. Indeed, the UK
government anticipates that the London Olympics will bring £13bn of economic benefits over
the next four years - £6bn in the form of foreign direct investment.
Daniel Lin, managing partner at Grant Thornton Hong Kong, commented, “As an emerging
market, China benefited from the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games in a way that boosted their
profile globally, rather than driving solid inward investment to the economy. 51% of mainland
Chinese businesses say success by individuals or teams competing in major sporting events is
important to their business, compared to a 21% among those in the UK. It clearly shows that
the image-lifting result brought by the Beijing Olympics Games is far more significant than the
actual business growth in China.”
Sporting events are not key to attract investments in Hong Kong
Due to the level of investment required to build and maintain sporting facilities and the low
participation rate at international sporting events, Hong Kong businesses do not see great
opportunities for the economy from hosting major sporting events. Only 38% of business
leaders in Hong Kong believe major sporting events are important in attracting investment.
Many of the businesses in Hong Kong (42%) are not involved in sport; for those involved,
their purposes are normally for team building (36%), staff incentives (32%), enhancing brand
awareness (32%), and generating goodwill in local community through sponsorship (32%).
With the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony tomorrow, the IBR also reveals that some
Hong Kong employers are going the extra mile for their staff to enjoy the Games this year -
32% will allow staff to watch online coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games while 22% of them
will even provide television coverage to be shown in the workplace.

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“These are positive signs that more Hong Kong businesses are moving towards achieving a
work-life balance for their employees. These companies are involved in sport because it is an
international language that brings cohesion among employees who might also be inspired and
motivated by the teamwork spirit shown by the athletes. The power of sport is so strong that
it attracts developed and emerging countries to sponsor big sporting events, which, apart from
attracting investment and enhancing international profile, boosts tourism and creates job
opportunities in local communities” Daniel Lin added.
- ends -
Further enquiries, please contact:
Daniel Lin
Grant Thornton Hong Kong
T +852 3987 1300
E Daniel.Lin@cn.gt.com
Kitty Cheung
Grant Thornton Hong Kong
T +852 3987 1222
E Kitty.Cheung@cn.gt.com
Charlene Leung
Ketchum Hong Kong
T + 852 3141 8080
E Charlene.leung@knprhk.com
Notes to editors:
Leading statistics
About Grant Thornton International Business Report
The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) provides insight into the views
and expectations of over 12,000 businesses per year across 40 economies. This unique
survey draws upon 20 years of trend data for most European participants and 10 years for

3. 3
many non-European economies. For more information, please visit:
www.internationalbusinessreport.com.
Data collection
Data collection is managed by Grant Thornton International's core research partner –
Experian, primarily by telephone. Questionnaires are translated into local languages with
each participating country having the option to ask a small number of country specific
questions in addition to the core questionnaire. Fieldwork is undertaken on a quarterly basis.
Sample
IBR is a survey of both listed and privately held businesses. The data for this release are
drawn from interviews with 3,000 businesses from all industry sectors across the globe
conducted in May/June 2012. The target respondents are chief executive officers, managing
directors, chairmen or other senior executives.
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