MARQUETTE, Mich. - B2 Networks announced today that for the first time in company history it will broadcast an Olympic-style competition featuring athletes from the United States and the People's Republic of China. A pre-Olympic exhibition between the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) and Chinese competitors in the sports of boxing, women's freestyle wrestling and men's Greco-Roman wrestling on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. (ET) will be broadcast live on the world's leading broadband broadcaster.  Hosted at the Berry Events Center on the campus of Northern Michigan University (NMU), the China vs. USOEC competition will provide spectators a chance to see national and world medalists who are in contention for positions on their respective Olympic teams.  

China vs. USOEC will be a competition of historic proportions because China will be represented by three teams traveling to the United States to compete in the same facility at the same time. Hailed as the next international athletic power and host of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China is sending athletes to Marquette, Michigan for a 10-day training camp concluding with the competition broadcast by B2 Networks on October 23.

"We are extremely excited to be able to broadcast such a historic international event," stated Richard Brosal, B2 Networks Executive Vice President for Business Operations and Marketing. "With the 2008 Beijing Olympics just around the corner, this competition will give the world a glimpse at some of the best athletes that China and the US have to offer." 

The China vs. USOEC competition will be available for viewing by a worldwide audience. The live events will be aired through the event website http://webb.nmu.edu/ChinaVsUSOEC/ as well as http://www.b2livetv.com. Fans wanting to watch the competition via B2 Networks will need a high-speed Internet connection and a current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. Fans may choose to watch one sport, wrestling includes both men's and women's matches, for $6 (US) or purchase an event pass for $10 (US). The event pass will give the opportunity for fans to switch between the wrestling and boxing matches throughout the duration of the competition. The competitions in each sport will be broadcast simultaneously.

"We are pleased to partner with B2 Networks to provide the opportunity for sports fans around the world to watch this unique event," stated USOEC Director Jeff Kleinschmidt. "B2 Networks has broadcast numerous NMU intercollegiate competitions in the past, so this is a natural extension of the NMU/B2 Networks partnership."

B2 Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and pay-per-view broadcasting systems. Our worldwide network of arenas, stadiums, local venues and data centers are currently in use to distribute live sports and events to personal computers, television screens, mobile devices and commercial venues around the world. Working with organizations such as the AHL, ECHL, NLL, IHL, USHL, NAHL, Arena Football Leagues, Fitness Universe and selected NCAA and NAIA conferences and member institutions, B2 Networks has established itself as a leader in innovative global direct to home, mobile and television broadcasting. For the B2 Networks' Programming Guide visit www.b2livetv.com, or for information about B2 Networks, visit www.b2now.com.