Tokyo Reaches Dozen Gold Partners -- Sponsor Spotlight

(ATR) Two new gold partners will handle banking for Tokyo 2020.

Two domestic banks, Mizuho Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, are the 11th and 12th gold partners for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

"Both these companies are leading Japanese megabanks, and their addition to the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship program will enable us to fully realize the message we have been conveying of an ‘All-Japan’ team working as one," Yoshiro Mori, president of Tokyo 2020, said in a statement.

"We look forward to staff of both these financial institutions located across the length and breadth of Japan lending their active support towards building momentum in the lead up to the 2020 Games."

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Tokyo 2020 Sponsorship Drive Bringing "Real Momentum"

(ATR) The former IOC director of marketing tells Around the Rings that the sponsorship drive for Tokyo 2020 is "unheard of."

"I think, comparing it to any previous Games Olympic marketing programs, this is a very impressive result," Michael Payne said to ATR in an interview.

"To be announcing a sponsor a week over the course of 12 weeks at the gold level is unheard of. Clearly, the Tokyo organizing committee and their marketing agency Dentsu have created real momentum in terms of business support for the Games."

Tokyo has added 12 tier one sponsors, so far, with a report in the Wall Street Journal saying they have exceeded their sponsorship goal of $1.3 billion.

According to sources in the report, each gold partnership is worth around $126 million, making the total value of the 12 partnerships around $1.51 billion.

"I think that the Japanese and Dentsu have gone for quickly building a strong club, instead of going out for a bidding process per category," Payne said.

"[A bidding process] may have achieved higher revenue in one or another category, but overall you can't criticize the result."

Richmond 2015 Banking

Banking services for the 2015 World Road Cycling Championships will be provided by TowneBank.

TowneBank, and locally headquartered bank, will work with the Richmond 2015 organizers to create a calendar of engagement events in the city called"Happenings Around Towne."

"The partnership with Richmond 2015 is the perfect way for us to introduce our community banking philosophy to our new neighbors in the greater Richmond area and to support Richmond as it welcomes the world," T. Patrick "Pat" Collins, president of TowneBank Richmond, said in a statement.

Richmond is the first cycling world championship to be held in the United States since 1986.The championship takes place from September 19 through the 27.

Written by Aaron Bauer and Kevin Nutley

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