Beijing organisers have appointed international public relations agency Hill and Knowlton as communications consultants for the 2008 Olympics.

"Hill and Knowlton will partner with us to help provide world class services to the media and communicate the vision of the Beijing Olympic Games," said Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG).

"Their expertise and capabilities will complement the resources we already have."
Hill and Knowlton is part of the WPP Group and was the first international public relations firm to open for business in China in 1984.

The company helped Athens win the right to hold the 2004 Olympics and was involved in London's successful bid to host the 2012 Summer Games.