The Chinese digital graphic service company which provided designs for the Beijing Olympics, was named a sponsor and an official service provider for the London Games Tuesday.

Crystal Computer Graphics will provide digital animations for the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

It will also do 3D visualizations of all 36 London venues and many non-competition venues such as the Olympic Village and the International Broadcast Center.

Crystal Computer Graphics was the first Chinese company to be appointed as a supplier by the London 2012 Olympic organizing committee, said Jiang Xiaoyu, vice executive chairman of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

The company became famous after designing the large Chinese scroll seen during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, Jiang said.

Its digital services were also used for virtual rehearsals for the opening ceremony a year before it took place. It reduced the number of formal rehearsals down to three.

Their job saved money, time and human resources, which could bea good reference for future Games, Jiang said.

"Our excellent service for the Beijing Olympics was the key to winning the bid," said Lu Zhenggang, president of Crystal.

The opening ceremony was one of 150 projects the company jointly produced with the BOCOG.

"We will do the same things during the London Olympics to present the hospitality and enthusiasm of the British people. It's a new challenge for us," Lu said.

"The key obstacle will be differences between oriental cultures and Western cultures," he added.

Established in 1995, Crystal developed quickly over the last decade by providing digital image services for the real estate industry. Its clients include the new buildings of the Central China Television (CCTV) and the Chinese National Center for the Performing Arts.

Crystal grew from a small company in Beijing to an international company with more than 2,000 staff members. It has offices in Beijing, Singapore, London and Dubai.

"Although we proved ourselves in the Beijing Olympics, the London Games will be different. We need to be more internationalized, " Lu said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2009)