USA TODAY's Melanie Wells writes about the USOC's
marketing of eight-year ad packages to the Olympic Games.
Coming off the '96 Atlanta Games, Visa has agreed to sponsor
the Games through 2000, but Visa Marketing chief Michael
Beindorff says he's "undecided" about buying rights through
2004. Atlanta sponsor Sara Lee has decided to pass on major
sponsorship status during the next several Olympics (USA
TODAY, 7/18)....Beginning August 7, USA Today will publish
year-round, monthly, Olympic sections containing in-depth
coverage of news and events. Named "Olympic Glory," the
special section will appear the first Thursday of each month
(USA TODAY)....In Toronto, William Houston reports that CBC
TV advertising for the '98 Winter Olympics "is ahead of the
pace set for ad revenue at last year's Atlanta Games."
Despite the sales, the CBC is predicting "only a modest
profit." It paid US$16M for the Nagano Games (Toronto GLOBE
& MAIL, 7/18)....The SLOC announced the creation of its Web
site at www.slc2002.org (SLOC).
NOTE: Salt Lake City police "are investigating a
domestic dispute that occurred July 9" involving SLOC
President Tom Welch and his wife, according to Mike Gorrell
of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Sgt. Dana Orgill said that no
charges have been filed, pending further investigation. The
TRIBUNE's Gorrell: "What impact the incident will have on
Welch's ability to lead SLOC's preparations for the 2002
Winter Olympics was unclear Thursday." SLOC Board Chair
Frank Joklik: "[T]his is a private matter and I have no
comment" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/18).