The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee agreed its first Tier One partnerships for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, with telecoms companies Rostelecom and MegaFon. The deals are worth a combined $260 million.
The $260 million combined total is the largest domestic sponsorship agreement in the history of the Olympic Movement. In addition, the new Sochi 2014 partners plan to invest about $200 million in the development of the infrastructure of the Krasnodar region, making their total investment in the Sochi 2014 project approximately $500 million.
The selection of Sochi 2014’s Telecommunications category partners at such an early stage of preparations, said the Organising Committee, will help to revolutionise the Black Sea coastal region’s telecommunications infrastructure and deliver an innovative and technologically-advanced Winter Games.
Rostelecom and MegaFon became the first Tier One partners of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The companies will assume the status of: “General partner of the XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi”; “General partner of the Russian Olympic Committee” and “General partner of Russian Olympic team (in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016)”. The agreement also allows the companies to use the following descriptors in Russia:
The sponsorship agreements were officially signed in Sochi at a ceremony that was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Alexander Zhukov; the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Kozak; the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for Sochi 2014, Jean-Claude Killy; and the IOC Executive Director, Gilbert Felli.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, said: “First of all, I want to thank all tender participants. In a challenging global economic climate, partnership with Russia’s first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games presents truly unique and enduring value. Competition for the Sochi 2014 Tier One Telecommunications partner categories has been fierce in spite of the world financial crisis. The total sum of the deal will become a record in Olympic history.
“Of course, the commercial part of the proposal was an important criterion, but not the only one. Our new partners were able to convince the Evaluation Commission of the validity of their proposals by highlighting a clear vision about the true potential of our collaboration and the benefits for the Olympic Movement.”
Chernyshenko added: “Trustworthy business partners play an essential role in the success of a truly global event like the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We look forward to collaborating with our new partners to stage an inspirational Winter Games in 2014 and ensure an incredible sporting, economic and social legacy for Sochi, Russia and the Olympic Movement. Both Rostelecom and MegaFon have shown they are committed to promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, which is great news for the Olympic Family and very important in a Sochi 2014 partner.”
Konstantin Solodukhin, General Director of Rostelecom, said: “Our unique status as the main national telephony provider in Russia allows Rostelecom to create the most high-tech telecommunication services in the south of Russia during and after the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.”
Sergei Soldatenkov, General Director of MegaFon, said: “It’s a great honor and responsibility for our country to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It is now MegaFon’s task to help showcase Russia’s new opportunities and ensure that participants and guests enjoy the latest mobile innovations during the Winter Games.”
The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee is currently in discussions with a number of leading companies that have expressed interest in becoming partners of the 2014 Winter Games. Open Tier One partnership categories are Oil, Gas, Metallurgy and Apparel.
The Worldwide Olympic Partners already signed up for Sochi 2014 are Coca-Cola, Panasonic and Samsung.
