Reebok Yet To Make Decision About Dropping Beijing Hospitality

Reebok Drops Plans To Build Hospitality Facility For Athletes At Beijing Olympics

adidas today said that Reebok has "made no decisions yet about sponsorship activities during the Beijing Olympics," according to Holger Elfes of BLOOMBERG NEWS. adidas Corporate PR Dir Anne Putz: "Reebok, which is not an official partner to the Olympic Games, is still planning its brand activities" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/14). In Boston, Jenn Abelson reports Reebok will drop "plans for a hospitality facility to host athletes, guests and the media" due to the "logistical demands made by the Chinese government." Reebok had "initially planned to share a facility" with adidas at a local school. Reebok has a "major marketing campaign" built around Rockets C Yao Ming, and Reebok Dir of Global PR Josie Stevens said that there also is a "slim chance the brand will be able to host a public event with [Yao] in Beijing, as the company had initially planned." Reebok now is considering "other options, including holding an event in Houston." Stevens declined to provide details on the "planning challenges." Reebok also has decided against making the 250 athletes the company is outfitting for the Olympics "available for press conferences or one-on-one interviews" during the Games. Reebok instead plans to "contract with a video news service to have a mobile film crew interview athletes and distribute content to media organizations" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/14).

COCA-COLA: Coca-Cola Senior Manager of Public Affairs & Communications Petro Kacur said the company, an IOC TOP sponsor, has "not had any issues and we are not scaling back any of our hospitality plans" (CNBC.com, 5/14).