Sponsor Spotlight - Rio 2016 Workshop; BMW Bobsleds; Goods for Glasgow, Sochi

Olympic Sponsors Meet in Rio

Sponsors of the 2016 Olympics attended the 2nd "Partner Workshop" Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

The event launched by Rio 2016 aimed to update sponsors on the progress of the Games, identify opportunities, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge between sponsors and the Brazilian organizers.

The workshop touched upon "[updating] on business opportunities, the education and sustainability program, strategic events as well as test-events, in addition to the use of the brand and also human resources."

Ten worldwide Olympic sponsors as well as five domestic partners attended.

"This meeting is a unique opportunity for Rio 2016 and the involved sponsors to potentialize Olympic Games’ brand valuation initiatives. It is an outstanding opportunity to understand, together, how we can value our partners’ brand and how they can help us to promote the Games," said Rio 2016 president Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

Merch Development for Glasgow 2014

Venue Retail 2014 Ltd. will develop and distribute the official merchandise of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

VRL managed the on-site merchandise for the London Olympic Games, as well as the organization of Coca-Cola’s merchandise.

The company will develop much of the merchandise, while allowing other Scottish firms to help showcase Scottish creativity in the goods.

An initial line for Glasgow 2014 is expected to be released around Christmas, with the full range of merchandise released in 2013.

"We are delighted to have been granted the Master Licensing and retail rights for Glasgow 2014," said Robert Porter-Smith, Managing Director of Venue Retail Ltd.

"We look forward to expanding and developing our product ranges and retail offerings – and our licensees – as we develop and grow through 2013 and into 2014 and Games-time."

Cannon Partners with IAAF

Cannon has signed on to be an official partner of the IAAF for the 2013-2016 competition cycle.

Cannon will sponsor 15 IAAF events including the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow and the 2015 edition in Beijing.

Cannon had previously sponsored the inaugural world championships in 1983 in Helsinki as well as 1987 in Rome.

"We are delighted to welcome this blue chip corporation back as an Official IAAF Partner," said IAAF president Lamine Diack.

"Through their products, we are convinced that Canon can help us connect further people with the emotions of the IAAF’s top events and with athletics in general."

Canon joins Adidas, Seiko, Sinopec, TDK, Toyota and VTB as world-class Official IAAF Partners.

German Car Giant Builds U.S. Bobsleds

BMW is building the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation a new two-person sled as part of its sponsorship of the USBSF.

According to an Associated Press report, a prototype was tested earlier this year by top athletes at the 2002 Olympics track in Park City, Utah.

Whether the sled will see its first competition action during this season’s World Cup – or will be ready in time for Sochi 2014 – remains to be seen.

"I happen to think these are going to be very good," USBSF CEO Darrin Steele told AP.

"They've helped us think outside the box on what they can do to extend the sponsorship past cash and tap into what they do really well, and that's technology and high-performance. They took a chance with this."

USA won four-man gold at the Olympics in 2010 and two-woman gold in 2002 but has not won the two-man title since 1936.

Sochi Ticket and Merchandise Sales

Sochi will sell approximately 100,000 tickets for test events during the 2012-13 winter sports season.

The hosts of the 2014 Winter Olympics are planning to stage around 60 test events.

Sportsmaster, the Sochi 2014 official retailer, has begun sales of Sochi 2014 merchandise with the Olympic Rings on them.

Stores have opened in 122 cities across Russia featuring products with the official Games logo. For the first time, Sochi 2014 mascots, stationery, badges, children's toys, arts and crafts products as well as exercise books have been made available for sale.

By the start of the Games, Sportsmaster expects around 5,000 product lines to be featured and on sale sporting the Sochi 2014 logo.

New McDonald's Exec

Jan Fields has been replaced as head of the USA division of McDonald's.

Jeff Stratton, the global chief restaurant officer, will replace Fields on Dec. 1.

The decision came after McDonald's recorded its first monthly sales decline since March 2003.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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