Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is "extending
its participation in the U.S. Olympic movement" and will
announce its sponsorship of the USOC and SLOC today,
according to Jay Baltezore of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. The
company "is expected" to provide health-insurance coverage
for employees of the USOC, SLOC and the athletes, coaches
and training staff of Olympic teams. Baltezore: "Providing
those premiums and covering claims will account for nearly
all of the company's contribution. It will provide little,
if any, cash, sources said" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/15).
GOOD DEAL: CBS Exec VP/Planning & Research David
Poltrack says that he is "still amazed" NBC was able to
acquire rights to the 2002 Salt Lake Games "as cheaply as it
did," according to Scott Pierce of the DESERET NEWS. NBC
paid a reported $545M for the U.S. broadcast rights to the
2002 Games. Poltrack: "NBC wanted Sydney, and the IOC
basically threw in Salt Lake City at fire-sale prices.
Don't they get it? They basically gave it away, and we're
sitting here with economic models that say Salt Lake City is
more valuable than Sydney." Poltrack said CBS was "prepared
to go much higher" than the $545M and added, "I think (the
IOC) missed the boat on that one" (DESERET NEWS, 1/15).
