Sponsor Spotlight: Bombardier, McDonald's, Allstate, Comcast, AT&T

Bombardier – the same people who brought you the torch -- will bring top-performing employees to the Games as part of its hospitality programs. The company is also supplying streetcars that are now seen on the streets of Vancouver.

Communications director Isabelle Rondeau tells Around the Rings more than 30 top-performing employees were chosen in a prize drawing that included transportation, meals, activities, tickets to competitions and hotel accommodations. The company also is bringing in clients as part of its hospitality program.

Bombardier, the designer and manufacturer of the nearly 30,000 Olympic torches, also had employees participate in 120 segments of the relay. Two employees followed the relay to calibrate the torches’ burners.

“The torch travels through different conditions. It can travel through plus 40 Celsius and minus 40, rain, snow, sleet and wind. The torch was able to go through the different kinds of weather,” Rondeau told ATR.

Bombardier began working on the torch design in November 2007.

“The lines of the torch are inspired by the beautiful snowdrifts, the shadows and lights that shape the couture of the Canada landscape, as well as the traces that sports like skiing and skating leaves on the ice,” Rondeau said.

Bombardier also is providing streetcars during the Games.

“We are an official supporter and our main contribution on that side is the torches, but in parallel, Vancouver wanted to use the 2010 Winter Games to promote a streetcar system with a demonstration project,” Rondeau said.

“So we’ve worked together with the city of Vancouver to make sure to put that demonstration project on rails.”

Bombardier is providing Vancouver with two modern streetcars from Brussels. The streetcars were launched Jan. 21 and will run through March 21. The streetcars will operate with free service, 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

Bombardier is based in Montreal. It is the world’s leading manufacturer of planes and trains.

McDonald’s Launches Vancouver Program

McDonald’s tells ATR the TOP sponsor gets “really jazzed about the Olympics” and that “Vancouver has been really special”. The company also is unveiling a new product at the Games -- “real fruit smoothies” – that will be available in the U.S. around the middle of the year.

Top officials joined gold medalists Picabo Street, Katarina Witt, and Shawn Johnson at the Thursday kickoff for the restaurant in the Main Press Centre, one of two restaurants opened for the Olympics.

McDonald’s President Don Thompson expressed pride that the Vancouver Games are the eighth straight Olympics for McDonald’s as the official restaurant.

IOC marketing commission chair Gerhard Heiberg thanked McDonald’s for “living up to the Olympic Charter” and added “we hope to be with you for many, many years.”

Thompson says McDonald’s is focused on 2010 and the 2012 Games. Whetherthe sponsorship will run beyond London hasn’t been decided.

“We’ll evaluate with [the IOC] and our team internally, said Thompson.

Allstate Hall of Fame Tribute at USA House

Visitors to the USA House in Vancouver can see past Olympians brought to life in three-dimensional exhibit during the Winter Games.

Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE: ALL) is partnering with the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame to celebrate the accomplishments of winter Olympians. USA House visitors will be able to watch mural artist Tracy Lee Stum draw Olympian icons on the walls using only chalk.

Speedskaters Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen, hockey player Jim Craig, figure skaters Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton, and skier Picabo Street figures will be part of the Allstate Hall of Fame Tribute.

“The Allstate Hall of Fame Tribute will capture the grace, elegance, strength and sportsmanship of the Olympic Movement,” said Lisa Cochrane, vice president of marketing at Allstate.

“In the spirit of protecting the legacies of the winter Olympian U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, this exhibit will showcase Allstate’s continued support of the hopes, dreams and accomplishments associated with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.”

Comcast Provides Coverage on Several Platforms

Comcast will provide coverage of the 2010 Winter Games on several platforms, including On Demand and online.

On Demand will deliver recaps from past Games, facts about the Vancouver Games, profiles and interviews of Team USA athletes and next day highlights during the Games.

Comcast’s website, www.comcast.net, will also offer coverage. Customers can access live event streaming, replays, athlete interviews, news and results medal trackers and photos.

AT&T Creates Team USA Soundtrack

Team USA sponsor AT & T has produced a soundtrack for Team USA athletes.

The soundtrack will include artists 3 Doors Down, The All-American Rejects remix by Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, Mariah Carey, Gloriana, Green River Ordinance, Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd and Sugarland.

“The AT&T Team USA Soundtrack truly captures the spirit of the Olympic Winter Games,” Jason Simpson, director of AT&T Olympic Integration, said.

Team USA will receive proceeds from the purchase of songs, ringtones and answer tones from February 12 through March 1.

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With reporting from Isia Reaves, Edward Hula III and Sam Steinberg.