London 2012 Success Aids IOC Sponsorships
The International Olympic Committee has revealed it intends to secure a new TOP sponsor to replace Acer this year, and has been aided by the huge success of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The arrival of a new sponsor is set to push the IOC’s TOP programme revenues for the period 2013-2016 above the US$1 billion mark for the first time, while the seven companies committed for the 2017-20 window have already contributed more than $720 million.
Gerhard Heiberg, head of the IOC’s marketing commission, told Reuters: ‘We are on track for that target. We have had some talks with possible newcomers and if we find the right company it could start immediately. We are looking at categories for this.’
Heiberg added that the IOC is also looking to add one more company apart from the electronics partner. The IOC’s TOP Partner programme currently consists of 11 companies: Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Procter & Gamble and Visa – who have all committed through to the 2020 Games. Atos Origin, Panasonic and Samsung have also extended their deals through to Rio 2016.
Acer became a TOP sponsor after the Beijing Games in 2008, but its partnership ended after London 2012 to leave a gap in the IOC’s portfolio.
