01ympic sponsorship symbiotic

by ReneeTomcanin staff writer

The Sydney Olympic games have gained support from many companies. The official sponsors, partners and supporters have contributed time, products and J?lOneyto the success of the games.

NBC will broadcast the summer games on NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC. Coverage will also be on its web site, www.nbc.com.

All advertising slots have been sold for the duration of the televised Olympic events. NBC collected $900 million through the sales of commercials. An average of nine minutes of advertising per hour will be shown during the games. McDonald's has been a major sponsor of the Olympics for many years. The fast-food chain will be feeding athletes in the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic games. It will provide breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. McDonald's has extended its sponsorship of the Olympic games through 2004. to accomplish this goal through fundraisers and merchandise sales. This campaign started in 1998 and will last until 2004. Many other corporations are official Olympic partners. Each will provide many services and items to the games. Coca-Cola is one of these partners. The company will provide refreshments such as soft drinks and water to the athletes. Coca-Cola radio will also broadcast the games to 200 different sta~ The Bank of America is tions. raising $1 million for the IBM will provide real-time athletes and games. It hopes results from each of the events as well as informa- Time, Inc. are keeping fans tion on the sporting events, at home in the United States biographies and profiles of up to date on the events. Stothe athletes, event schedules ries and results will be puband weather reports. The lished as well as biographies computer company also ere- and profiles of the athletes. ated FanMail on the A viewer's guide will come Olympic web site, which al- out before the games. Time lows fans to send e-mails of Inc. also developed the offiencouragement to their fa- cial program for the games. vorite athletes. Many other companies, Kodak will be sponsoring American, Australian and the Imaging Centre in Syd- international, have donated ney, which will provide im- time and services to the ages of the games. It will games. A complete list of also create the ID badges these companies and their worn by the athletes and contributions can be found provide medical imaging on the official Olympic web services. site at www.olympic.com.

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