China for the Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee had launched a tendering process for mainland China.

The reason is sale of internet and mobile phone platform rights for next year's Beijing Olympics.

The IOC has already sold over-the-air TV rights in China for the Games to broadcaster .

"We are looking for offers that develop the promotion and coverage of the Olympic Games, embrace new technologies and guarantee the widest possible audience in China for the Olympic Games across a variety of media platforms," said IOC marketing and television director Timo Lumme in a statement.

The deadline for bids is April 18.

Revenues from broadcasting and new media rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics have already risen nearly 40 percent from the previous two-Games package, which includes the Beijing Olympics, and will be in excess of $3.0 billion.

The IOC estimates some 15 percent of that will come from new media including the internet and mobile phones.

The IOC received about $2.5 billion for broadcasting rights for the Turin 2006 Winter Games and the Beijing 2008 Summer Olimpics.