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Beijing alumnus preps for OlympicsBeijing will host the world this summer during the 2008 Olympic Games, and Thunderbird alumnus Teh-han Chow will have a role in feeding the hungry hordes.

“The city is buzzing with excitement, anticipation and a bit of uncertainty,” Chow says. “Certainly everyone is excited about the Olympics.”

Chow’s company, J.R. Simplot, supplies McDonald’s with about 90 percent of its frozen French fry needs in China. Those needs will spike during the games Aug. 8-24 because McDonald’s is an Olympics sponsor with restaurants at various venues.

As Simplot’s managing director for greater China, Chow oversees the company’s potato processing facility in Beijing. He says food prepared for the games must be processed under tight security, and his facility has made several production runs under those conditions.

“We have produced several hundred tons of products, in part to develop production lot contingency plans,” he says.

Besides keeping the crowds fed, Simplot also will keep the grass green at the games. Chow says his company supplies Kentucky bluegrass seed for Olympic venues including the main stadium and park.

He says Beijing opened a new airport terminal in anticipation of the Olympics, and the city has scrambled to make other accommodations. “The city will be sure that it is ready to host the world,” Chow says.