The relationships between the USOC and the IOC is
"good, almost friendly," for the first time in a long time,
according to Mike Spence of the Colorado Springs GAZETTE
TELEGRAPH. The two organizations have had an "icy
relationship" since the mid-'80s when the USOC felt its
marketing rights were altered by the IOC and "relations grew
downright chilly" last year when the IOC announced two long-
term TV deals with NBC, prior to consulting the USOC. Also,
several USOC leaders felt the IOC "raided" U.S. markets
without consideration to the USOC. Spence notes the USOC
was "at least partially right," as almost 70% of the revenue
from the Olympics is produced by U.S. TV and U.S. multi-
national corporations. Of the ten IOC "Olympic Program"
sponsors, nine are U.S.-based. USOC Exec Dir Dick Schultz
and IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch met in the first
effort in the peace-making process. Schultz: "President
Samaranch and I have been able to establish a very good
relationship. Our position was that we had to widen the
group of individuals involved." The two organizations have
formed a "dispute resolution committee," called the
Marketing Coordinating Group, which will consist of three
people from both the IOC and USOC. If the panel can't
resolve a certain problem, Shultz and Samaranch will met on
it (Colorado Springs GAZETTE TELEGRAPH, 12/15).
OLYMPIC NEWS & NOTES: Michael Johnson has been named
USOC's '96 SportsMan of the Year and swimmer Amy Van Dyken
was selected the '96 SportsWoman of the Year (USOC)....In
Chicago, Jeff Borden reviews the city's bid for the 2008
Summer Olympics under the header "Could Chicago Go For the
Gold? What City Does (and Doesn't) Have to Host 2008
Olympic Games" (CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS, 12/16 issue)....In
Atlanta, Henry Unger notes sports marketers put the value of
UPS worldwide Olympic sponsorship renewal for the '98 and
2000 Games at $30M (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/13)....Ice-
making machine creator Mayekawa Mfg. Co. and ticket seller
Pia Corp. have inked a deal to become official suppliers for
the '98 Nagano Olympics (KYODO NEWS, 12/17). ...Coca-Cola
will sponsor the Olympic torch relay for the '98 Nagano
Games (KYODO NEWS, 12/18).
