2016 Rio Olympics merchandise to go on sale in China

The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) launched the sale of 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics' merchandise in Chinese markets on Sunday, providing Chinese fans unique licensed products for next year's Summer Olympics.

With the partnership of Beijing Honav Culture Development Co Ltd, a company that offers licensed merchandise, the COC held a press conference Sunday to announce several licensed merchadise for Rio 2016. Sales of plush toys, pins and keychains will be on sale in Chinese markets beginning in October under the authorization of the 2016 Olympic Games organizing committee.

This marks the second time that the COC promotes Olympic merchandise sales to its own market after their first launch for the 2012 London Olympics.

Li Yingchuan, vice-president of the COC hailed the expansion of Olympic merchandizing to China as a great way to spread the Olympics value.

"Bringing featured Olympic products to Chinese consumers not only benefits the marketing revenue of the organizing committee, it will also provide an access for more Chinese to experience the Olympic culture while sharing the development of the Olympic Movement," he said on Sunday.