The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday was forced to deny accounts from the top Pyeongchang Games official that it will prevent the free distribution of hot beverages during Friday’s opening ceremony to protect Cola-Cola’s exclusive sponsorship rights.
With area nighttime temperatures falling below 0 degrees Fahrenheit recently, organizers are going to great lengths to keep fans warm at the open-air ceremony, erecting temporary wind blockers and distributing heating pads. Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom said they were also going to make hot drinks available for free, but the IOC told him that would violate Coca-Cola’s rights as exclusive non-alcoholic beverage distributor.
“We wanted to provide these beverages for free but we had to sell it for one buck,” Lee said through an interpreter.
However, the IOC said he is simply wrong.
“It is incorrect to say IOC rules, or sponsorship rights, are preventing POCOG from providing free hot drinks,” an IOC spokesperson said. “This is a misunderstanding.”
A few hours later, a Pyeongchang 2018 spokesperson said Lee provided “misinformation” about Coca-Cola, adding that hot beverages will be available for purchase. He did not explain why the idea to give away drinks for free was scuttled.
