To encourage people to choose bicycles over cars and to inspire their interest in cycle sports, Societe Generale Beijing 2008 Cycling Festival was just held in Beijing.

Sponsored by Paris-headquartered banking group Societe Generale, the festival featured a series of activities including a bicycle history exhibition, a classic and concept bikes show, a BMX performance, and environmental protection art exhibition.

"We are here to promote a healthy lifestyle in China," says Pierre Bonzom, managing director and head of Commercial and Personal Banking at Societe Generale (China).

China is well-known as a nation of cyclists, however, as the economy roars and incomes rise, more people are driving polluting cars.

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, auto emissions are one of the key reasons for Beijing's pollution.

It is estimated that if every Beijing driver observed International Car Free Day on September 22 every year, 33 million liters of fuel could be saved and the emissions could be reduced by 30 million tons.

During the festival, Societe Generale announced that it was initiating the "Chinese Bicycle Sport Promotion Plan", a program to introduce French advanced cycling sports training technologies to China, to sponsor some Chinese Cycling Association events, and offer help for training China's National Cycling Team in France.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has stirred up people's interest in sports and inspired them to take part in various athletic activities. "It's a good opportunity to promote the cycling sport here," says Bonzom.

The French banking group says they were satisfied with the response to the cycling festival, which attracted hundreds of thousands.

The managing director says that Societe Generale will host the event in Beijing annually.

(China Daily 10/06/2008 page8)