Olympic Officials In Seattle To Plan Sports Summit

Boeing has signed on as the official “host” of the Pacific Rim Sports Summit, which “will bring top athletes from nine nations to the Puget Sound area June 7-12 for a wide-ranging series of Olympic-sport events,” according to Ron Judd of the SEATTLE TIMES. Boeing will also be a major sponsor of the corresponding arts festival. More than two dozen Olympic execs and consulate officials are in Seattle to plan the event, which will feature mostly Summer Games sports, “ranging from basketball to synchronized swimming. But a few winter sports, notably short-track speedskating, featuring local gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, will be thrown into the mix.” Boeing VP Bob Watt said that sponsoring the event “is an extension of Boeing’s longstanding outreach to Asia and the Pacific Rim.” Judd reported other sponsors include Washington Dental Service, the Port of Seattle, Swedish Medical Center, Holland America, United Airlines and Hilton Hotels. Seattle Organizing Committee for the Pacific Rim Sports Summit CEO Bob Walsh said that the event “has a budget of about $10[M].” With Seattle committed to host the event this year and in ’07, Olympic officials this week will focus on the ‘06 summit, which they have asked Beijing to host. Boeing “already is on board for ‘07” (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/11).