Panasonic Evaluates Earthquake Aftermath; Visa Corrects Ticket Payment Problem

Panasonic Evaluates Japan Earthquake Aftermath

Worldwide Olympic sponsor Panasonic tells Around the Rings it is evaluating the impact of the March 11 earthquake.

Hiro Nishigai, General Manager Worldwide Olympic Marketing said in a statement provided to ATR, that the Japanese TOP sponsor is still evaluating what damage the earthquake may have had on the company.

"We all at Panasonic Group express deep sympathy and condolences for victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the northern region of Japan on March 11".

He added, "The influence to Panasonic operation caused by the earthquake is still uncertain at the moment. However, we do believe that it will not affect our ongoing technical preparations and operations towards the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as future Olympic Games, which we have promised to bring under the TOP partnership."

"Panasonic has already announced it has committed 300 million yen monetary contributions and in-kind donations of 10,000 units each of radios and flashlights and 500,000 dry batteries to aid and support the recovery of areas affected. We sincerely hope for swift recovery of the people and areas affected by the disaster."

Panasonic is the only Japanese TOP sponsor.

Visa Corrects Ticketing Payment Problem

The glitch that frustrated some Olympic ticket hopefuls on the opening day sales is no more.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Visa fixed the problem in its payment system that rejected cards with expiration dates before the end of August when Brits applied Tuesday via London 2012’s website.

All cards with expiration dates May or later will be accepted beginning Monday, and any cardholders with April expiration dates will receive replacement cards before the ticket application window closed on April 26.

The process is not first-come, first-served, meaning any registration received before the deadline stand an equal chance of bearing fruit.

Visa is a TOP sponsor of the Olympic Games and the only card accepted for ticket sales on the London 2012 website.

Olympic Countdown Resumes After Glitchy Debut

London 2012’s countdown clock is again ticking away the hours until next year’s Olympics open.

The Omega-made timepiece made mainstream media headlines worldwide on Tuesday when the device stopped running less than 24 hours after its fireworks-laden unveiling in Trafalgar Square.

Its screen read 500 days, 7 hours, 6 minutes and 56 seconds left to go for roughly six hoursuntil Omega technicians successfully restarted the countdown Tuesday evening. Now they’re scrambling to figure out what actually went wrong and to make certain the glitch doesn’t resurface.

"The clock is functioning correctly and we have a team of engineers working in both the UK and Switzerland, who are currently carrying out rigorous testing to ensure that we identify the correct problem and deal with it as quickly as possible," a spokesperson for the Swiss watchmaker was quoted Wednesday by the BBC.

Omega is the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, a distinction it’s held since 1932.

Archery Renews Sponsorship

Geologic renewed its sponsorship with the International Archery Federation, FITA.

The company produces archery equipment for Decathlon and supplies target faces to the federation.

Geologic's brand manager Florent Rabouin said: "We are happy to continue our collaboration with FITA. Our brand added value is to make the pleasures of archery accessible to everyone through efficient and solid products at the lowest prices. Some of our products are particularly safe in order to introduce archery to kids at earliest age, whether it is at home, in clubs or in schools."

Briefs…

… TOP sponsor Procter & Gamble spent the most on ad spending in the U.S. for the eight straight year, according to Kantar Media. The company spent $3.1 billion on advertisement in 2010.

…adidas has launched a marketing campaign that features adidas Sports Performance, adidas Originals and adidas Sport Style. The campaign that includes television and online ads also features football star David Beckham.

…The Sony Ericsson Open has partnered with foursquare to make the event the first ever foursquare sporting event. The partnership gives attendees the opportunity to win prizes by checking-in on their mobile phones at certain venues during the event.

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With reporting from Ed Hula III, Matthew Grayson and Isia Reaves Wilcox

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