Seiko Corp. has reached an agreement with the SLOC and
the USOC for a sponsorship and licensing partnership
covering the next five years leading up to and including the
2002 Olympic Winter Games (Seiko). In UT, Mike Gorrell
reports the deal is "expected to be worth more than" $30M.
In addition, the company has agreed to leave equipment and
scoreboards permanently at a number of Olympic venues and
will give a Seiko watch to every volunteer during the Games.
Seiko won the sponsorship over Swiss Timing, a.k.a. Swatch.
Seiko will hold exclusive U.S. rights to market watches and
clocks bearing either the SLOC or USOC insignias once the
Nagano Games are completed (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 10/10).
UT GOV SAYS LEAVITT BE: UT Gov. Mike Leavitt "asked
Utahns on Thursday to forget" SLOC's "problems of recent
months and to recommit themselves to supporting the" 2002
Games. Leavitt then went to SLOC's board and "urged its
members to 'pull together, reunite' and to provide the
leadership needed to bring the state's citizens back into
the Olympic fold" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 10/10).
