BEIJING, August 7, 2007 – Lenovo, a worldwide leader in the PC market, announced today that with the help of Google it will conduct a global online search for the world's most innovative 
thinkers to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and of the Olympic Games, Lenovo will celebrate the power of inspiration across the world by honoring torchbearers who embody the Olympic Spirit. 
These ‘new thinkers’ will participate in the historic China portion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. Lenovo's innovative torchbearer selection program will make extensive use of the Google platform. Starting next week, Google search users and affiliated Web site visitors will be directed to www.Lenovo.com/torch by promotional links and can register for Lenovo's global torchbearer search. At the end of September, 20 entrants from around the world will be selected to create and submit videos on YouTube showcasing how they exhibit the Olympic ideals and new thinking.
Visitors will cast their votes on the videos submitted in October, and the top three vote-getters will be nominated by Lenovo to be torchbearers for the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. In the coming weeks, Lenovo will also launch several country-specific torchbearer selection programs.
"As a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, we are very excited to bring torchbearer opportunities to the general public through Google. This is an innovative approach to torchbearer nomination," said Deepak Advani, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Lenovo. "Using Google's unsurpassed search and hosting platforms, we will invite people to nominate ‘new thinkers’ — those who embody our company's philosophy and share in our global vision. New thinkers are representative of our passion for ingenuity and exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit."
The criteria for a "new thinker":
Motivator – One who inspires the community to achieve goals and conquer obstacles
Provocative – One who disregards traditional boundaries in carrying out a great and difficult endeavor
Imaginative – One who thinks "outside the box" – outside of national and cultural limitations
Individualistic – One who demonstrates independence in both their thoughts and their actions
Explorer – One who seeks new ways of doing and achieving
To show appreciation for "New Thinkers" registering in the campaign, Lenovo will manage weekly promotions to award them Lenovo Olympic pins, Olympic Torch-themed notebook PCs, and even the real Olympic Torch itself. Lenovo, winner of multiple awards in PC design, is also the designer of the 2008 Olympic Torch.
The official torch lighting will take place in Olympia, Greece, in March 2008. The torch is planned to travel to 22 cities in five continents before spending 97 days traveling to more than 100 cities in Mainland China. It will arrive at its final destination in Beijing on August 8, 2008, marking the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It is the longest ever Torch Relay in Olympic history with more cities visited than any past Games. Are you in yet?
thinkers to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and of the Olympic Games, Lenovo will celebrate the power of inspiration across the world by honoring torchbearers who embody the Olympic Spirit. 
These ‘new thinkers’ will participate in the historic China portion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. Lenovo's innovative torchbearer selection program will make extensive use of the Google platform. Starting next week, Google search users and affiliated Web site visitors will be directed to www.Lenovo.com/torch by promotional links and can register for Lenovo's global torchbearer search. At the end of September, 20 entrants from around the world will be selected to create and submit videos on YouTube showcasing how they exhibit the Olympic ideals and new thinking.
Visitors will cast their votes on the videos submitted in October, and the top three vote-getters will be nominated by Lenovo to be torchbearers for the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. In the coming weeks, Lenovo will also launch several country-specific torchbearer selection programs.
"As a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, we are very excited to bring torchbearer opportunities to the general public through Google. This is an innovative approach to torchbearer nomination," said Deepak Advani, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Lenovo. "Using Google's unsurpassed search and hosting platforms, we will invite people to nominate ‘new thinkers’ — those who embody our company's philosophy and share in our global vision. New thinkers are representative of our passion for ingenuity and exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit."
The criteria for a "new thinker":
Motivator – One who inspires the community to achieve goals and conquer obstacles
Provocative – One who disregards traditional boundaries in carrying out a great and difficult endeavor
Imaginative – One who thinks "outside the box" – outside of national and cultural limitations
Individualistic – One who demonstrates independence in both their thoughts and their actions
Explorer – One who seeks new ways of doing and achieving
To show appreciation for "New Thinkers" registering in the campaign, Lenovo will manage weekly promotions to award them Lenovo Olympic pins, Olympic Torch-themed notebook PCs, and even the real Olympic Torch itself. Lenovo, winner of multiple awards in PC design, is also the designer of the 2008 Olympic Torch.
The official torch lighting will take place in Olympia, Greece, in March 2008. The torch is planned to travel to 22 cities in five continents before spending 97 days traveling to more than 100 cities in Mainland China. It will arrive at its final destination in Beijing on August 8, 2008, marking the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It is the longest ever Torch Relay in Olympic history with more cities visited than any past Games. Are you in yet?
Source: lenovo.com
