For the first time since the '20's, no commercial logos
will appear on the uniforms worn by U.S. athletes on the
medal podium at the Nagano Winter Games in February,
according to Mike Gorrell of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. OPUS
President John Krimsky said that only the USOC logo -- the
letters USA over the five interlocked Olympic rings --will
appear on team suits worn for medal presentations and the
opening and closing ceremonies. Krimsky: "This is an
experiment to tell us more about the value of the rings."
Gorrell reported that the USOC is "hoping a strong public
recognition of the logo in subsequent marketing checks will
convince sporting-goods manufacturers ... that have spurned
associations with the Olympic movement to come into the fold
and bring their money with them." Gorrell added that
commercial logos "may be back" during the 2002 Winter Games
in Salt Lake City, "but only if a sporting-goods company
contributes to the Olympic movement, and not just to
individual athletes" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 10/28). Also in
UT, Lisa Riley Roche reported that Krimsky wouldn't name the
two remaining sponsors for the 2002 Games, but "did say
they'll be a malt beverage maker and an airline." Riley
Roche added that Anheuser-Busch and Delta Air have been past
Olympic sponsors (DESERET NEWS, 10/28).
