Sponsor Spotlight - Coke Responds to Brazil Protests; IPC, Getty Renew

strong>Call for Government Help on Investment/strong>br />br />Russian metals tycoon Oleg Deripaska is calling on the government to help him make a return on the $1.4 billion he is plowing into the Sochi 2014 Olympics.br />div style="width: 245px;" class="article_img_right">img width="245px" height="143px" src="http://www.aroundtherings.com//articles/images/txw05xpd.nfr.jpg" />span >/div>br />Deripaska is one of a clutch of oligarchs called upon to pay for Russia's first Winter Games in a gargantuan, and world record, $51 billion construction project.br />br />The 45-year-old, worth an estimated $8.5 billion, is responsible for upgrading the Black Sea resort's airport and seaport, as well as building the Olympic village through his Basic Element holding company.br />br />"Such a large-scale project as the Olympics should serve as an example for the development of private-public investment partnerships, and a powerful stimulus for its further growth," Deripaska told R-Sport's sister agency Prime.br />br />But the current climate is only serving to discourage private business from engaging in government projects, Deripaska said.br />"At the moment, the opposite is happening. ... I see no reason not to participate in such grandiose projects in the future, but let's not forget that we, as investors fulfilling our promises, expect a return on our investments," he said.br />br />Deripaska and the other chief private source of Sochi financing, banking tycoon Vladimir Potanin, have called for significant tax breaks on Sochi Olympic investment to speed along any returns they might make – or mitigate any losses if their white elephant fears materialize.br />br />Potanin's Interros holding has built the Roza Khutor Alpine skiing base in the mountains that will be used for Olympic competition.br />br />With less than a year to go until the February 7 opening ceremony, most of the facilities for the Games are already complete; though workers are in a race to finish the surrounding infrastructure on time.br />br />Published by exclusive arrangement with Around the Rings’ Sochi 2014 media partner RIA-Novosti. br />br />strong>Security Minster Downplays Security Threat /strong>br />div class="article_img_left" style="width: 245px;">img width="245px" height="163px" src="http://www.aroundtherings.com//articles/images/km0lbh5f.2ch.jpg" />span >/div>br />Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says Russians fighting in the Syrian civil war do not pose a security threat for the Sochi 2014 Olympics. br />br />He said in an interview with the Associated Press the threat posed by Russians in Syria "would be taken into account very seriously."br />br />Officials say 200 Russians are fighting with the Syrian rebels. br />br />strong>Russian Authorities Investigating Abuse Allegation br />/strong>br />A report says Russian authorities are investigating allegations that a laborer on a Sochi 2014 construction site was abused by police. br />div class="article_img_right" style="width: 240px;">img src="http://www.aroundtherings.com//articles/images/t3jxfpcw.y5l.jpg" width="240px" height="160px" />span >/div>br />Martiros Demerchyan says he was detained and sexually assaulted after he complained about being underpaid for work on a residential unit for Sochi volunteers, the BBC reports. br />br />He claims he was told to confess to stealing items from the construction site, refused, then signed a blank piece of paper and was assaulted. br />br />Written by a href="mailto:ebh3@aroundtherings.com">Ed Hula III/a> with copy published by exclusive arrangement with Around the Rings' Sochi 2014 media partner RIA-Novosti. /br />br />For general comments or questions, a href="mailto:comment@aroundtherings.com?subject=Around the Rings">click here/a>.br />br />strong>20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is a target="_blank" href="https://www.aroundtherings.com/subscribe.aspx">AroundTheRings.com/a>, for subscribers only./strong>//Coke Responds to Brazil Protests

In light of the ongoing protests throughout Brazil, the CEO of worldwide Olympic partner and FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola says the company expected risk when the 2016 Olympics and 2014 World Cup were awarded to Brazil, but added the beverage giant is looking forward to the challenge.

"We all knew when decisions were made about Brazil for the World Cup and the subsequent decision on the Olympics that there was always some risk," Muhtar Kent was quoted by media outlets.

"Where there's no risk there is no reward and the opportunities are so much greater that I am sure they are going to be very memorable, fantastic events."

He added: "It's wonderful that Brazil, an emerging nation with such a large population, is host to two of the greatest sporting events that the world follows."

IPC, Getty Renew

Getty Images and the International Paralympic Committee agreed to extend their partnership.

The renewal runs through 2016 and covers the Sochi and Rio Paralympics, as well as many other major para-events.

"I am delighted to continue our successful partnership with Getty Images, the Official Photographic Agency of the International Paralympic Committee," said Craig Spence, IPC Media and Communications Director.

"By providing their images to a wide selection of media organisations worldwide, Getty Images is a vital partner in making the Paralympic athletes known around the world and spreading the message of the Paralympic Movement."

The IPC and Getty have been working together since the Athens Paralympics in 2004.

Also, the IPC announced it will stream the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships on YouTube.

The event, taking place in Lyon, France, can be seen on the IPC’s YouTube page.

Jeremy Nicholas, a commentator for the London 2012 Paralympics, will be the voice of the live stream.

"I'm really excited that the event will be shown on YouTube," said Marie Amelie Le Fur, London 2012 gold medalist in the T44 100m.

"It's important for the growth of the Paralympic Movement that as many people as possible can watch the action. It helps raise awareness."

USA Gymnastics, Hilton Extend

Hilton HHonors will be the official hotel of USA Gymnastics through 2016.

The agreement focuses on support for athletes, as well as the members of the national federation.

The hotel rewards program will continue the Team Hilton HHonors program that provides financial support for American gymnasts during their training for the Olympic Games.

Various promotional initiatives will be funded through the partnership, as well as continued upgrades to the USA Gymnastics National Training Center from Hilton.

"Hilton HHonors was an important part of our athletes’ success in 2012," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.

"In addition to providing direct financial support for top male gymnasts, HHonors also delivered benefits to our entire organization through hotel room discounts. We look forward to building upon that foundation through the comprehensive partnership on our road to Rio de Janeiro and the 2016 Olympic Games."

British Rowing Still Without Sponsor

The British Rowing Federation will head into the 2013 World Championships in South Korea without a flagship sponsor.

The federation has not been able to replace Siemens, which ended its six-year sponsorship in December.

"All of our rowers are finding it hard," said Sir David Tanner, Performance Director of British Rowing.

"If this were to continue, I'd be worried that some rowers would decide not to carry on after the Rio Olympics in 2016."

Great Britain took home nine rowing medals at the London Olympics, the most of any nation.

Written by Aaron Bauer

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.