USOC AND SLOC FORM JOINT MARKETING VENTURE

          The USOC and SLOC have formed a joint venture, Olympic
     Properties of the U.S. (OPUS), to develop long-term
     sponsorship packages that "max out as high" as $300M,
     according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK.  USOC Dir of
     Corporate Planning & Services Gordon Kane says five sponsors
     are at "final contract stage" for the deals that include
     U.S. team sponsorship for '98, 2000, 2002 and 2004 and
     rights and marks for the 2002 Salt Lake event.  Media from
     NBC is "also being dangled with the packages," which is
     being negotiated separately.  NBC will take over after CBS'
     coverage of the '98 Nagano Winter Games and assumes
     broadcast rights through 2008 (BRANDWEEK, 5/19 issue).