Commonwealth Games Miss Target; Coke Sponsors UK Charity

Commonwealth Games Miss Sponsors Revenue Target

Bloomberg quotes Delhi Commonwealth Games organizers as saying the event missed its sponsorship target.

The Games raised nearly $86 billion, or less than half of the sponsorship money projected. The goal was $217 billion.

Commonwealth Games’ partners and sponsors included Indian Railways, Coca-Cola and Reebok.

Media reports previously stated that Indian Railways withdrew its $30 million sponsorship payment to the organizing committee. The Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee said it never received any information from Indian Railways threatening to back out of its sponsorship.

Indian Railways is still listed as the lead partner on the Commonwealth Games' website.

Power Grid Corp of India withdrew its nearly $2.3 million sponsorship of the Games. NTPC Ltd. also threatened to withdraw its close to $11 million sponsorship because of negative publicity of the Games although it is still listed as a partner on the Delhi Commonwealth Games’ website.

The Commonwealth Games were held Oct. 3 to 14 in Delhi.

Coca-Cola Sponsors UK Sports Charity

Coca-Cola is sponsoring the UK Charity, StreetGames, by donating money. The amount was not disclosed. The charity’s goal is to give young people in disadvantaged communities access to sports.

"By working with communities through projects like StreetGames we hope we can help consumers live more active lifestyles," Jon Woods, a Coca-Cola GB and Ireland executive, said.

"By drawing on the appeal of the Olympic Games and the popularity of our many brands, our ambition is to encourage positive behavior change among traditionally hard-to-reach audience."

UK Minister for Sport and Olympics Hugh Roberston was in London to launch the partnership.

The program will reach more than 46,000 young people.

Deloitte Report Challenges Businesses Ahead of London 2012

Some businesses could suffer if they are not properly prepared for the 2012 Games in London, a report by sponsor Deloitte says.

"An event of this scale with sites across London and throughout the country will present some serious challenges to those companies who operate in and around venues for the Games if they fail to understand and plan ahead. This makes some of our findings really surprising," HeatherHancock, Deloitte’s London 2012 partner, said in the report.

The report says just 25 percent of the businesses surveyed are planning for the London 2012 Games.

Nearly 60 percent of businesses surveyed in the UK say they do not expect the Olympics to have a major impact on how they operate during the Games.

"Many of these businesses need a wake-up call," Deloitte executive Rick Cudworth said.

"Thinking through the impacts than an Olympic-scale event could have on logistics, the supply of goods and the movement of staff is essential."

In the report, 12 percent of businesses in the area and 15 percent of businesses in London also said their London 2012 preparations are behind schedule.

PyeongChang 2018 Flies with Korean Air

A third grade student submitted the winning design with the theme PyeongChang 2018 in Korean Air’s annual children’s aircraft design contest.

Korean Air – one of the bid’s major sponsors -- unveiled the design of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft Monday. The design includes "PyeongChang 2018" and a ski jumper and a figure skater holding a Korean flag.

The aircraft will fly domestic and international routes.

"This new aircraft design will help to raise awareness of our bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games and promote the Olympic spirit around the world," Yang Ho Cho, PyeongChang 2018 chairman, said in a press release.

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With reporting from Isia Reaves Wilcox

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