Fiat SpA is hoping that its massive $48M sponsorship deal for the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Turin will give its lackluster image a boost.
Fiat is one of the main national sponsors at the Games, along with Telecom Italia. There are also "Worldwide Partners" including; Visa International, Coca Cola and McDonald, sponsoring an entire Olympic cycle of one Summer and one Winter Games.
Fiat's Olympic sponsorship consists largely of supplying cars (approximately 3,000)to the Olympic athletes, journalists and reporters.
Monday, February 6, 2006
Friday, February 3, 2006
Olympic Phone Tapping Revealed
It seems that the 2004 Olympic Games, which were held in Athens, were not as harmonious as the organisers would have you believe.
It has been revealed that persons unknown were tapping the phone lines of the Greek Prime Minister, and others, during the course of the games and beyond.
The mobile phones of Greek prime minister, Costas Caramanlis, and other top government and security officials were tapped by unknown individuals during the Athens 2004 Olympics and for nearly a year after.
Government spokesman, Theodoros Roussopoulos, said:
"The people [under surveillance] included the prime minister himself and other members of the government."
In fact around 100 people were tapped, including the ministers of foreign affairs, defence, public order and justice. Most of Greece's top military and police officers were also targeted, as were foreign ministry officials, a US embassy number and the prime minister's wife, Natasha.
Mr Roussopoulos, backed by public order minister Giorgos Voulgarakis and justice minister Anastassis Papaligouras, claimed that it had not been possible to identify who was behind the surveillance.
Quote:
"It was an unknown individual, or individuals, who used high technology."
However, rather intriguingly, the phone tappers used interceptors traced to the vicinity of the US embassy.
Greece was watched by western anti-terrorist experts, as it prepared to host the Olympics. Washington had been vocal in its demands for Athens to tighten security ahead of the Olympic games.
It has been revealed that persons unknown were tapping the phone lines of the Greek Prime Minister, and others, during the course of the games and beyond.
The mobile phones of Greek prime minister, Costas Caramanlis, and other top government and security officials were tapped by unknown individuals during the Athens 2004 Olympics and for nearly a year after.
Government spokesman, Theodoros Roussopoulos, said:
"The people [under surveillance] included the prime minister himself and other members of the government."
In fact around 100 people were tapped, including the ministers of foreign affairs, defence, public order and justice. Most of Greece's top military and police officers were also targeted, as were foreign ministry officials, a US embassy number and the prime minister's wife, Natasha.
Mr Roussopoulos, backed by public order minister Giorgos Voulgarakis and justice minister Anastassis Papaligouras, claimed that it had not been possible to identify who was behind the surveillance.
Quote:
"It was an unknown individual, or individuals, who used high technology."
However, rather intriguingly, the phone tappers used interceptors traced to the vicinity of the US embassy.
Greece was watched by western anti-terrorist experts, as it prepared to host the Olympics. Washington had been vocal in its demands for Athens to tighten security ahead of the Olympic games.
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
The Giant Olympic Sponge
Much like a giant sponge, the London Olympics 2012 is expected to drain worthwhile projects and charities of much needed funding; as companies tip all their resources into the Olympic bucket.
Charities and sports and cultural events throughout Britain, are prepared to lose out as the cash call by London's Olympics committee for £750M drains them of their normal sources of income.
The question is whether the vast sums of money that companies spend on Olympic advertising, which ends up financing the IOC, is really earning them any additional revenue.
Charities and sports and cultural events throughout Britain, are prepared to lose out as the cash call by London's Olympics committee for £750M drains them of their normal sources of income.
The question is whether the vast sums of money that companies spend on Olympic advertising, which ends up financing the IOC, is really earning them any additional revenue.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Italy To Relax Drug Laws
Good news for all of those Olympic athletes, who need a little chemical stimulus to help them achieve their peak performance, it seems that the Italian government will relax their drug laws for the duration of the Winter Olympics in Turin.
This decision has been greeted with much relief by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), as they had visions of their prized athletes being arrested and jailed for drugs offences.
Jailed athletes are not very good for the Olympic brand, or for the lucrative sponsorship deals that the IOC lives off.
The IOC rules allow athletes to be disqualified for doping offences, but not arrested. The Italian law, unamended, was far stricter; doped athletes would have faced prison sentences of up to 3 years.
Additionally, the Italian health ministry earlier this month had given its anti-doping commission full responsibility for dope testing at all international competitions in Italy.
That would have meant that a body that would not be swayed by the IOC or Italian government would have been in charge of testing; something that the IOC could never have tolerated.
Mario Pescante, Italy's under-secretary for sport and supervisor for the Winter Olympics, said that a deal had been made with the IOC over doping.
Quote:
"We've reached an agreement, which has been approved by the president of the IOC. Italian law will be respected with regards to penal sanctions, but at the same time we will be guided by Wada's list of banned substances."
The agreement includes the setting up of a task force to ensure a good compromise between Italian law and IOC rules. The task force will include IOC members, Wada officials and representatives of games organiser Toroc.
So there you have it, Italian law has been compromised; because Olympic athletes, and their sponsorship contracts, are above the law!
This decision has been greeted with much relief by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), as they had visions of their prized athletes being arrested and jailed for drugs offences.
Jailed athletes are not very good for the Olympic brand, or for the lucrative sponsorship deals that the IOC lives off.
The IOC rules allow athletes to be disqualified for doping offences, but not arrested. The Italian law, unamended, was far stricter; doped athletes would have faced prison sentences of up to 3 years.
Additionally, the Italian health ministry earlier this month had given its anti-doping commission full responsibility for dope testing at all international competitions in Italy.
That would have meant that a body that would not be swayed by the IOC or Italian government would have been in charge of testing; something that the IOC could never have tolerated.
Mario Pescante, Italy's under-secretary for sport and supervisor for the Winter Olympics, said that a deal had been made with the IOC over doping.
Quote:
"We've reached an agreement, which has been approved by the president of the IOC. Italian law will be respected with regards to penal sanctions, but at the same time we will be guided by Wada's list of banned substances."
The agreement includes the setting up of a task force to ensure a good compromise between Italian law and IOC rules. The task force will include IOC members, Wada officials and representatives of games organiser Toroc.
So there you have it, Italian law has been compromised; because Olympic athletes, and their sponsorship contracts, are above the law!
Monday, January 30, 2006
Competitors' Blogs Banned
Those Olympic competitors who are hoping to update their fans with an inside view of the Winter Olympics in Turin, will be disappointed and frustrated.
The International Olympic Committee are banning all competitors' blogs during the course of the games.
The Olympic Charter bans athletes' journalist activities when the games are on, and violators will be disqualified. It seems that personal blogs are counted as "journalistic activities".
The International Olympic Committee are banning all competitors' blogs during the course of the games.
The Olympic Charter bans athletes' journalist activities when the games are on, and violators will be disqualified. It seems that personal blogs are counted as "journalistic activities".
Friday, January 27, 2006
Snow Joke
It seems that there may be another fly in the ointment of the forthcoming Winter Olympics, being held in Turin in the next fortnight, in addition to the worries over low ticket sales and strike action at airports.
There is a distinct lack of snow.
It has not snowed since late December in Sestriere, the venue for the skiing events, and despite extensive use of snowmaking machines, the International Ski Federation remains concerned.
The start point of the men's downhill race could be lowered by 10m as a result.
Given the fact that large parts of Europe are currently in the grip of the worst winter freeze since the 1940's, this is something of a blow.
There is a distinct lack of snow.
It has not snowed since late December in Sestriere, the venue for the skiing events, and despite extensive use of snowmaking machines, the International Ski Federation remains concerned.
The start point of the men's downhill race could be lowered by 10m as a result.
Given the fact that large parts of Europe are currently in the grip of the worst winter freeze since the 1940's, this is something of a blow.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
The Price of Sponsorship
Those of you wishing to be in the top 10 sponsors of the 2012 London Olympics, will have to dig deep into your pockets.
The price tag for a top ten spot is a minimum of £50M per head.
Who ever said that the Olympics was just about sport?
Games organisers are hoping to sign up 10 high roller sponsors, by March, covering four sectors; automotive, banking, telecommunications and utilities.
It is hoped that UK commercial sponsorship will cover approximately 35% of organising committee's financial needs, estimated to be around £2BN.
The remaining requirements are to be covered by International Olympic Committee broadcasting and sponsorship revenues, ticket sales, merchandising and other commercial activities.
Sir Digby Jones, director-general of the CBI, took a side swipe at the EU and has asked the games organisers to buy British-made goods.
Quote:
"I want every single medal that is hung around the necks of the world's athletes to be made in Britain. I want Britain to treat European Union procurement rules in the way that France would."
The "good old boys" in the unions needless to say rules out a no strike agreement. Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, said:
"I don't think talking about a no-strike agreement is the right approach."
All rather akin to watching pigs, with their snouts in a trough!
The price tag for a top ten spot is a minimum of £50M per head.
Who ever said that the Olympics was just about sport?
Games organisers are hoping to sign up 10 high roller sponsors, by March, covering four sectors; automotive, banking, telecommunications and utilities.
It is hoped that UK commercial sponsorship will cover approximately 35% of organising committee's financial needs, estimated to be around £2BN.
The remaining requirements are to be covered by International Olympic Committee broadcasting and sponsorship revenues, ticket sales, merchandising and other commercial activities.
Sir Digby Jones, director-general of the CBI, took a side swipe at the EU and has asked the games organisers to buy British-made goods.
Quote:
"I want every single medal that is hung around the necks of the world's athletes to be made in Britain. I want Britain to treat European Union procurement rules in the way that France would."
The "good old boys" in the unions needless to say rules out a no strike agreement. Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, said:
"I don't think talking about a no-strike agreement is the right approach."
All rather akin to watching pigs, with their snouts in a trough!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Olympics Strike
In the true spirit of the Olympics, ie making money, the ground staff at Turin airport have shown that they are more than willing to enter into the spirit of things.
They have just started a wildcat strike, breaking an Olympic games truce with local unions less than three weeks before the Winter Games.
The labour stoppage is forcing flights to land at other Italian airports, and leaving travellers stranded after their flights did not depart.
Turin airport spokesman, Roberto Bergandi, said workers were protesting about plans to fire 11 ground staff.
A local truce covering the airport began 10 days ago, while a nationwide truce is due to begin on January 31.
Meanwhile, an official from a union for workers involved in an unrelated labour dispute with Alitalia raised the possibility that if that airline's employees remain dissatisfied with efforts to resolve their complaints they could violate the nationwide Olympics truce with strikes.
There's the true "Olympic spirit"!
They have just started a wildcat strike, breaking an Olympic games truce with local unions less than three weeks before the Winter Games.
The labour stoppage is forcing flights to land at other Italian airports, and leaving travellers stranded after their flights did not depart.
Turin airport spokesman, Roberto Bergandi, said workers were protesting about plans to fire 11 ground staff.
A local truce covering the airport began 10 days ago, while a nationwide truce is due to begin on January 31.
Meanwhile, an official from a union for workers involved in an unrelated labour dispute with Alitalia raised the possibility that if that airline's employees remain dissatisfied with efforts to resolve their complaints they could violate the nationwide Olympics truce with strikes.
There's the true "Olympic spirit"!
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