Atlanta-based UPS "may drop" its Olympic sponsorship,
"jeopardizing" the SLOC's plan for distributing tickets to
the 2002 Winter Games, according to Lisa Riley Roche of
DESERET NEWS, who wrote that UPS and SOCOG "are squabbling
over how Olympic tickets are being distributed there." UPS
spokesperson Susan Rosenberg, on the company's possible
withdrawal: "We are not making any threats. But the long
and the short of it is that it all goes into the process.
It's not something in any way that's being punitive to Salt
Lake. It's looking at the entire package." SLOC President
Mitt Romney, on the situation: "There are other companies
willing to step into their shoes. I know they have found it
very challenging to deal with Sydney's organizers. I won't
try to pinpoint blame ... (but) I hope Sydney will get it
back on track." Rosenberg also said that UPS "won't decide
whether to sign another" four-year contract with the IOC
until after the 2000 Games. Riley Roche noted that UPS'
"dilemma" has IOC officials "fuming" at SOCOG and "worried
about" the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. IOC Marketing Dir
Michael Payne, on the consequences if UPS does not renew:
"Salt Lake desperately wants to finalize the ticketing plans
and distribution, so if UPS doesn't renew, we land Salt Lake
in a mess" (DESERET NEWS, 6/17).
