UPS is considering dropping its Olympic sponsorship
deal (see THE DAILY, 6/19), and the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION's
Russell Grantham writes the "squabble" arose over SOCOG's
hiring of Australian competitor TNT to deliver the tickets
in its envelopes, "rather than using plain ones that would
have preserved UPS' exclusive marketing ties." UPS Olympic
spokesperson Susan Rosenberg, on SOCOG's hiring of TNT: "It
was at the explicit instructions of the [IOC] not to do so."
Rosenberg said that SOCOG's action "could color" UPS'
decision on whether to extend its sponsorship to the 2002
and 2004 Olympic Games. Rosenberg: "The more problems you
have along the way, the more you call into question the
benefits." Russell notes that UPS, "as a recently minted
public company," is taking a "second look" at its Olympic
ties because "it needs to justify" the $40-120M expense to
shareholders. Rosenberg said that UPS "will probably decide
whether to renew its sponsorship" after the conclusion of
the 2000 Games (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/20).
GREENE GOES WEST: U.S. sprinter Maurice Greene has
become a spokesperson for USOC sponsor US West through 2002
(US West). The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein
writes that the deal is for three years. Bernstein notes
that US West is a sponsor of the USOC and the 2002 Games,
and while it will take the Qwest name when it merges with
Qwest Communications Int'l this summer, its Olympic
sponsorship contract "does not allow for a name change." US
West's Olympic Marketing Dir Greg Pollack said that US West
and OPUS are in talks "regarding the matter," and a deal
"could be worked out in a matter of weeks." AT&T, a Qwest
competitor, also being a 2002 Games sponsor could
"complicate matters" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/19 issue).
USA TODAY's Chris Jenkins notes an arbitrator gave the
USOC rights to usolympicstore.com. A NJ man had "registered
and tried to sell the name" to the USOC (USA TODAY, 6/20).
