Wanglaoji travels to New York for Olympics stunt

Non-Olympic sponsor Wanglaoji - known as Wong Lo Kat Herbal Tea in Hong Kong - decked out a boat with 'Welcome to Beijing, China' billboards featuring a can and a blue flame, a giant can of its drink and a crew of young Chinese women dressed in short traditional qipao dresses. It sailed the boat past torch-toting landmark, the Statue of Liberty.

Coca-Cola is the worldwide Olympic sponsor in the soft drink category.

JDB Group, makers of Wanglaoji, were unavailable for comment; though it is unlikely they will face rebuke as its herbal tonic is the de facto ‘official beverage' to China's ruling Communist party, sponsoring both the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The group is also riding a wave of popularity after it was reported that it donated RMB100 million (US$14.6 million) to Sichuan earthquake relief efforts, the largest donation by far.