Sponsor Spotlight - Hotel Sponsor for London 2012; VANOC Confident in GM

Hotel Group to Guarantee Room Rates

Intercontinental Hotels Group is expected to become a third-tier sponsor of the London 2012 Games, according to reports in British media.

Part of the deal is said to include a guaranteed rate of about $300 per night for 1,800 rooms in the Park Lane area for national Olympic committee leaders and other Olympic family over the Games period.

IHG is owned by Bass Breweries, which got into the hotel business about 20 years ago. In addition to the Intercontinental chain, the parent company owns Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites.

Details of the arrangement are not known.

VANOC Confident in GM

Vancouver organizers say they are still confident that GM will deliver on its sponsorship obligations despite the possibility of bankruptcy.

“We’ve had discussions with them and with others who, as I said, continue to give us assurance that they’ll deliver on their obligations and we take them at their word,” executive vice-president and deputy CEO of VANOC, Dave Cobb, said.

When GM became an Olympic sponsor in 2005, it guaranteed VANOC $14 million in cash and $52 million in value in kind, which included over 4,300 vehicles.

The company may file for bankruptcy in the U.S. next week and has started closing dealerships, including 245 in Canada.

“Everybody is working hard and they fully intend to meet their obligations as all our sponsors do,” Cobb said.

Atos Origin Extends Sponsorship

Atos Origin becomes the IOC’s fourth TOP Sponsor for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and 2016 Summer Games after the technology services provider extended its Olympic partnership.

Headquartered in France and Belgium, the company now joins Panasonic and Samsung in partnering with the IOC through 2016; Coca-Cola’s deal runs through 2020. IOC members will select the 2016 host city in a vote at the Session in Copenhagen Oct. 2.

“We rely on Atos Origin’s world class expertise and experience, and I am absolutely delighted to announce that the IOC will continue its partnership with Atos Origin for a further four years through to 2016,” IOC President Jacques Rogge said in a statement.

The extension -- announced Monday -- was widely expected following the company’s successful IT delivery projects at the past four Winter and Summer Games. It joined the Olympic TOP Sponsor program in 2001.

IOC Ends Search for TOP Sponsor in Car Industry

IOC marketing commission chairman Gerhard Heiberg tells Around the Rings plans to secure an automotive partner as a TOP sponsor are on hold because of the financial slump in the car industry.

Heiberg is also less than confident of signing at least one more top-line sponsor to hit the IOC’s target of $1 billion in revenues for the 2009-12 Olympic cycle.

“All automotive companies are in difficulties. We are not talking to them for the time being,” Heiberg said.

This marks a shift in the IOC’s search for worldwide sponsors for the next two Olympics. Last October, Heiberg told ATR the IOC was in discussions with a number of car companies.

Talks have since been suspended due to the impact of the recession on the global auto sector; industry giants such as General Motors, Chrysler and Toyota have been crippled by the crisis.

USOC Renews with Adecco

The U.S. Olympic Committee renewed its agreement with Adecco, through 2012. The company helps Olympic and Paralympic athletes find jobs.

The USOC and Adecco first partnered in 2005 and renewed the contract before in 2008.

“With the right career coaching and access to our 120,000 client companies, we are pleased to help these athletes reach their personal and professional goals while achieving our motto of better work, better life,” Adecco Group North America CEO Tig Gilliam said.

Since 2005, more than 1,600 U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, coaches and elite athletes have participated in the program.

Twenty-three other countries also use Adecco’s services.

FIBA Gets New Global Partner

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has partnered with Tissot SA, the Swiss watch maker. The agreement makes the company a FIBA Global Partner for 2009-2012.

“In addition to becoming a FIBA Global Partner, this is a long-term strategic partnership which is of particular importance for three reasons,” Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General and IOC member, said.

“Firstly, Tissot will provide the major the major FIBA Championships with the highest possible level of timing and data management services. Secondly, Tissot will activate the FIBA partnership across the world through its impressive network of outlets,” Baumann continued.

“Finally, Tissot and FIBA will produce exclusive watches for all basketball fans.”

With reporting from Isia Reaves and Mark Bisson

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