Sponsor Spotlight -- Sport England Doles Out Millions; Coca-Cola Under Fire

UK Facilities to Receive $15 Million

Sport facilities around the United Kingdom can apply to receive nearly $5 million.

Starting on Oct. 10, Iconic Facilities, an initiative inspired by London 2012, will use 10 million British Pounds, which is more than $15 million, from the National Lottery to fund the facilities. Organizations can apply for grants between about $390,000 and $5 million.

This program is part of a larger initiative from Sport England. The organization is tasked with creating a long-lasting sport legacy from the London Games.

"This funding is making sure that people who are inspired by the Games will have some really great facilities where they can go and play sport," said Richard Lewis, chair of Sport England.

"We know that high quality facilities that offer a range of sporting activity can encourage many more people to take part in sport. Without doubt this is a key part of ensuring we deliver a lasting legacy from the Games."

A recent recipient of the grant was Manchester’s National Indoor BMX Centre.

Over the course of three years, Sport England plans to dole out over $46 million for large, multisport projects.

Coca-Cola Critiqued for Staff’s VIP Treatment

Coca-Cola is under fire for its Olympic plans.

While LOCOG is telling spectators to take public transportation during Games next year, organizers set aside "Olympic lanes" dedicated for the Olympic Family, including sponsors.

"When the Olympics bid was accepted, part of the deal was that there would be dedicated Olympic lanes for competitors and, unfortunately, the sponsors, so it will be Coca-Cola executives. That will be annoying. Hopefully the rest won't grind to a halt," Transportsecretary Philip Hammond was quoted by London’s Evening Standard newspaper.

Tony Travers, a transport expert at the London School of Economics, also critiqued the decision to allow Coca-Cola staff and guests to ride by car.

"Coca-Cola will benefit from special measures during Games where traffic will be an issue like no other and the rest of us are being asked to make sacrifices. It is a blatant affront to the Olympic spirit," he said.

According to the Standard, the company’s staff is staying a short distance from Olympic Park and could easily take public transportation to the competitions.

$4.6 Billion Hospitality Bill in London

Corporate hospitality will bring in $4.6 billion at the London Olympics, says the official hospitality sales arm of the 2012 Games.

Prestige Ticketing Limited said at a press conference Wednesday that investors should receive a 12 percent return on investment from hospitality.

Despite these projections, only 30-40 percent of high-end corporate hospitality packages for next year have been sold, according to Reuters.

"Whilst the economic climate is challenging, we have to work that bit harder and not rely on the banking and financial sectors which are traditionally very strong in hospitality," Prestige's chief operating officer Alan Gilpin said Wednesday.

The deals usually cost about $6,933 per person and include tickets, drinks and meals in corporate pavilions.

Some of the popular 2012 events for corporate hospitality include equestrian, hockey and tennis.

A total of 120,000 hospitality tickets were allocated to Prestige Ticketing for sale.

Written by AnnCantrell.

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