SLOC still cannot sell sponsorships to the 2002 Games
because it has yet to finalize a deal with the USOC on how to
share corporate dollars. Meanwhile, new projections factoring in
inflation through 2002 put the actual cost of staging the Games
at close to $1B -- 25% more than the $800M budget proposed during
city's bid (DESERET NEWS, 6/17).... Economic woes and "political
wrangling" have put Sicilian organizers "so far behind" that next
year's World University Games may have to be relocated (BOSTON
GLOBE, 6/16).... According to Advantage Int'l Managing Dir Frank
Craighill, between $1.5-2B is being spent on advertising and
promotion of the Atlanta Games. In a recent Southern Focus Poll,
33% of the respondents said the Olympics were the first thing
that came to mind when they thought about Atlanta. Only 6% gave
that answer from a similar survey conducted three years ago
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/15)....Warner Bros. will host the world
premiere of Arnold Schwarzenegger's new movie, "Eraser," inside
the Olympic Village on August 2nd (Warner Bros.)....VW will tout
its new limited edition Jetta Trek in nearly half the ads the
automaker plans to run on NBC's Olympic broadcasts. The company
has also bought additional billboards and outdoor signage in
Atlanta (INSIDE MEDIA, 6/12 issue)....Atlanta resident Bob
Zimmerman, who earlier turned down a $20,500 offer to sublet his
Marietta Street apartment for an NBC News Olympic TV studio, was
evicted from his home after failing to pay rent -- but not before
he sued NBC, American Skylines construction and his landlord for
$2.5M after contending the work was violating his lease and the
quality of his life (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/17).
