Olympic News

Olympic marketing communications expert joins VERO - 14 May 08

Sport business communications consultancy VERO appointed Karen Webb as Director.

Olympic channel won’t debut before Beijing - 12 May 08

A new 24-hour television channel run by the US Olympic Committee won't debut before the 2008 Beijing Games in August.

Further ticket problem for Beijing Olympics - 7 May 08

Ticket sales for the Beijing Olympics have once again encountered severe problems, despite assurances from organisers that the online system had been repaired. Problems last year led to the dismissal of the ticket centre's director.

IOC toughens Olympic Charter - 7 May 08

The International Olympic Committee toughened its interpretation of the Olympic Charter, informing potential Beijing Games athletes that their actions, reactions and attitudes will be scrutinised at the coming Olympics.

Spain’s leading sports associations back Madrid 2016 Olympic Bid - 7 May 08

Associations for six of the most popular sports in Spain joined together to pledge their support for the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid. A manifesto outlining their commitment was signed by representatives from the Spanish football, basketball, handball, futsal, athletics and cycling associations.

MP & Silva acquires FIVB Olympic Qualification Tournament rights - 2 May 08

MP & Silva acquired the exclusive media rights to the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Women’s and Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo, Japan from Dentsu.

Japan Consortium wins Olympic broadcast rights - 30 Apr 08

The Japan Consortium, an association of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and NAB (The National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan), has acquired the Japanese broadcasting rights for the Vancouver 2010 and the London 2012 Olympic Games from the International Olympic Committee.

Olympic sponsors win high interest in China - 29 Apr 08

Average worldwide interest in the Olympic Games is at 52 per cent according to a new survey from SPORT+MARKT and unprompted awareness of Olympic Sponsors in China shows high interest and good results, especially for international brands.

Co-operative Group backs netball for 2016 Olympics - 28 Apr 08

The Co-operative Group said it would back England Netball’s bid to make netball an Olympic sport in time for the 2016 Olympic games.

Olympics 2012 budget estimates ‘entirely unrealistic’ - 22 Apr 08

The British government’s estimates of the cost of hosting the 2012 Olympics were ‘entirely unrealistic’ according to the body which oversees government expenditure.

Financial blow to Prague Olympic bid - 17 Apr 08

Prague’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games suffered a setback on Tuesday after it received less than half of the funding it originally requested.

PGA Tour backs golf for Olympic inclusion - 16 Apr 08

Golf's bid to return to the Olympic schedule after an absence of more than a hundred years was boosted when the PGA Tour’s commissioner Tim Finchem announced his support for the idea.

Olympic advertising space sells despite protests - 14 Apr 08

US Olympic broadcaster, NBC, has sold three-quarters of its 2008 Games advertising space at strong prices, despite recent protests surrounding the torch relay.

Nike extends sponsorship of US Olympic Team - 11 Apr 08

Nike extended its sponsorship deal with the US Olympic Committee to become the Official Outfitter of the US Olympic and Paralympic Team until the London 2012 Olympic Games.

India considering 2020 Olympic bid - 10 Apr 08

India is considering bidding for the 2020 summer Olympics, according to Indian Olympic Association president, Suresh Kalmadi.

Telstra acquire share of Olympic rights - 27 Mar 08

Australian telecommunications provider, Telstra, agreed a $9 million deal with the Seven Media Group to show exclusive live coverage of the Beijing Olympics on its BigPond mobile service.

2010 Olympics announce Q2 budget results - 17 Mar 08

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organising Committee said it has agreed sponsorship agreements worth about $709 million, more than 90 per cent of its overall target of $760 million.

pmpLEGACY joins Madrid 2016 Olympic bid - 7 Mar 08

The Madrid 2016 Olympic Bid committee appointed pmpLEGACY as their bid consultants.

Record Olympic and Euro Champs TV audiences expected in 2008 - 6 Mar 08

The European Football Championships and the Olympic Games in 2008 will create an interesting battle for TV audience between Asia and Europe, according to Eurodata TV Worldwide.

Johnson & Johnson showcases US Olympic hopefuls - 4 Mar 08

Health care brand Johnson & Johnson has teamed up with the NBC Olympics to launch a multimedia showcase, which will follow the journey of eight American athletes and their families as they prepare to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Sponsorship boosts Australian Olympic team - 3 Mar 08

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and financial services company AXA announced a five-year deal which will cover the next two summer Games and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Sky Italia secures 2010 and 2012 Olympic rights - 26 Feb 08

Sky Italia acquired the TV rights for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Olympic Games in a deal with the International Olympic Committee.

NBC to offer Chinese and Korean Olympic coverage - 18 Feb 08

The Olympics will be broadcast in Chinese and Korean for the first time ever in the US by US network NBC.

ESPN STAR Sports launches Olympic coverage - 15 Feb 08

ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has launched the first of five Olympic programmes that will give viewers an exclusive preview of the XXIX Olympiad and all the news as it happens in Beijing 2008.

Sochi 2014 reports on Olympic preparations - 5 Feb 08

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 CEO, presented a report on the protection of Olympic and Paralympic Intellectual Property and on the forthcoming IOC Coordination Commission visit to Sochi.

Moscow and Singapore finalists for 2010 Youth Olympic Games - 22 Jan 08

Moscow and Singapore will fight it out for the right to host the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board shortlisted them from its original list of five candidates.

Tokyo files 2016 Olympic bid - 11 Jan 08

Senior Tokyo 2016 officials personally delivered their city’s Application File to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 to the International Olympic Committee at its Lausanne headquarters.

Rio unveils bid details for 2016 Olympic Games - 9 Jan 08

Rio de Janeiro unveiled details of its bid to stage the 2016 Olympic Summer Olympic Games, mostly using facilities built for last year's Pan-American Games.

Russia's biggest businesses back Moscow's 2010 Youth Olympic Games bid - 8 Jan 08

Thirteen major companies signed up as corporate supporters of Moscow’s bid to bring the 2010 Youth Olympic Games to Russia.

NBC and Microsoft team up for online Olympics - 7 Jan 08

NBC Universal, owner of the exclusive US media rights to this summer's Olympic Games, has launched a strategic alliance with MSN and Microsoft to create ‘NBCOlympics.com on MSN’.

Qataris back Doha 2016 Olympic bid - 14 Dec 07

The population of Qatar has demonstrated overwhelming support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic bid.

Havas Sports UK wins EDF Olympic contract - 12 Dec 07

Havas Sports UK was appointed to handle EDF Energy’s activation of its tier one sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Cricket looks to an Olympic future - 12 Dec 07

The International Cricket Council earned "provisional recognition" from the International Olympic Committee, the first step on the road to possible inclusion in the Olympic programme.

Lenovo will not renew Olympic contract - 5 Dec 07

Lenovo Group, said it will not renew its sponsorship contract with the International Olympic Committee after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Eurosport 2 to air 2009 European Youth Olympic Festival - 3 Dec 07

Eurosport 2 was chosen as the live broadcasting partner for the 2009 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) at the 36th European Olympic Committee (EOC) General Assembly in Valencia.

Five cities short listed for 2010 Youth Olympic Games - 20 Nov 07

The International Olympic Committee short listed five cities as Candidate Cities to host the first Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010 - with Moscow seemingly heading the race.

CCTV to bring in $10.7 billion in ad spend for Olympic year - 20 Nov 07

CCTV, the Chinese state-broadcaster, will bring in 80 billion yuan ($10.7 billion) worth of advertising for 2008, when it hosts the Olympic Games.

UK to support India's 2020 Olympic bid - 20 Nov 07

London mayor Ken Livingstone said the UK will support India's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

DHL seeking Olympic Top Sponsorship deal - 14 Nov 07

DHL is reportedly seeking a deal with the International Olympic Committe to become a global Top Level sponsor and the official logistics partner for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.

London 2012 unveils Olympic Stadium - 8 Nov 07

The organisers of London 2012 have unveiled the design for the Olympic Stadium.

Workshop begins for 2016 Olympic candidate cities - 15 Oct 07

Bid delegations for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games gathered today in Lausanne, Switzerland, for the start of an IOC workshop about the 2016 candidature process.

Nine and Foxtel win Olympic rights - 15 Oct 07

Nine Network (Nine) and Foxtel have won the broadcast rights within Australia for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Weber Shandwick to support Tokyo 2016 Olympic bid - 2 Oct 07

The Tokyo 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee appointed public relations firm Weber Shandwick to support its bid.

Olympic torch won't go through Taiwan - 21 Sep 07

The Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay will no longer go through Taiwan after negotiations between Taiwanese and Chinese officials broke down.

Japanese government backs Tokyo's 2016 Olympic bid - 12 Sep 07

The city of Tokyo will now formally submit its candidacy to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, after gaining approval from Japan’s government.

NBC PENS OLYMPIC DEAL WITH ASSOCIATED PRESS - 22 Aug 07

NBC Universal has struck a deal with press agency the Associated Press to carry video links and other exclusive content from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in a premium online service.

QATAR NAMES 2016 OLYMPIC BID TEAM - 17 Aug 07

Qatar has named the bidding team behind the Gulf state’s formal bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

GABRIEL NAMED DIRECTOR FOR YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES - 15 Aug 07

Sports consultant Essar Gabriel was appointed to head up the Youth Olympic Games.

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTERS SET FOR OLYMPICS BATTLE - 9 Aug 07

Australia’s broadcasters are reported to be gearing up for a battle to land the rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games.

JON TIBBS ASSOCIATES BUILDS ON OLYMPIC SUCCESS - 9 Aug 07

Tokyo 2016 secured the services of Olympic communications consultancy Jon Tibbs Associates (JTA) that was instrumental in Sochi 2014 Bid success.