Technogym has become the first non-Chinese company to be named as an Exclusive Official Supplier to the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

The appointment as Exclusive Official Fitness Equipment Supplier makes it four in a row for the Italian company - following Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Turin in 2006 - and will see more than 12,000 Olympic athletes from over 200 countries and competing in 28 sports categories training with Technogym kit.

For the Beijing Olympics, Technogym will set up 10 training facilities including the main fitness centre inside the Olympic Village with around 1,000 pieces of cardio and strength equipment.

A fully-equipped wellness centre will be also available for BOCOG staff and another centre for the 20,000 journalists attending the event. Technogym will also offer technology and services to help manage the facilities, as well as providing qualified fitness coaches.

Additionally, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) has chosen Technogym as Official Supplier for the preparation of its national teams.

The company has already begun to equip all the facilities designated for the athletic preparation of the Chinese Olympic contingent.

In all, there will be around 20 fitness preparation centres dedicated to the various Chinese sport federations involved in the Olympic contest.

Picture shows the Great Wall of China at Badaling