Turin City Council Votes To Boycott Top Sponsor Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Having Image Problems In Italy Ahead Of Olympics

The Turin City Council voted to boycott TOP sponsor Coca-Cola, “arguing the company ignored workers’ rights in Colombia,” according to REUTERS. But Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino called the proposal “childish.” A spokesperson for Chiamparino said that the nonbinding vote was “only an invitation to follow the boycott and would have no practical effect.” The spokesperson said Chiamparino “will phone Coca-Cola and apologize, considering it’s a main sponsor of the Games.” Coca-Cola Italian External Relations Dir Nicola Raffa said that the council “should have given Coca-Cola the chance to explain its dealings in Colombia.” Raffa: “There is some disappointment over the exploitation (of the Olympics) to spread unfounded accusations.” Earlier this month, some Rome neighborhoods “threatened to block the Olympic torch from passing through their streets because Coca-Cola was sponsoring the event, but backed down after talks” with the company and Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni (REUTERS, 11/17).