Olympic Newsdesk -- Bavarian Leaders Expect Support; London Accreditation

7/27/2010

Bavarian Leaders Believe Munich Bid Will Win Public Support

The Prime Minister of Bavaria says he is confident that agreements will be struck for the use of land in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the Munich bid for the 2018 Olympics.

Horst Seehofer spoke after a cabinet meeting in the mountain village that was scheduled long before a dispute broke out between landowners and the Olympic bid over use of their land for a 2018 Games.

"I am very, very confident that we can end our application with success," said Seehofer who mentioned the possibility of an Olympic law to protect landowners who agree to lease their properties.

Seehofer also said that it would also be a patriotic gesture on the part of the landowners to help with the Olympic bid.

“Many technical things may be important [for an Olympic bid], but the most important is, to win the hearts of the people,” he said.

IOC vice president Thomas Bach, president of the German NOC, says he believes the chances for the bid are “excellent”.

He also raised the possibility of seeking alternatives to Garmisch, should the landowners fail to come to terms.

Agreements are needed with more than 70 landowners to construct an Olympic Village and media facilities.

Tuesday night, proponents of the Munich 2018 bid as well as opponents will hold a debate on the bid on Bavarian TV.

Annecy, France and PyeongChang, South Korea are also bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

London Media Credentialing Open

National Olympic Committees received their allocations of media credentials for the 2012 Olympics Tuesday.

Print, photographic and online news agencies can begin applying for credentials to cover the Games now, with some NOCs opening the application process later.

Credentials will be awarded in 2011.

All non rights-holding broadcasters will be accredited by the International Olympic Committee.

Dow Taps VP of Olympic Operations

The Dow Chemical Company named George Hamilton as vice president of Dow Olympic Operations.

Dow CEO Andrew Liveris and IOC President Jacques Rogge announced the 10-year partnership on July 16.

Hamilton, now vice president of government markets, will head the newly formed Dow Olympic Operations Team, responsible for maximizing the sponsorship’s brand-related opportunities.

“We are serious about capturing new revenue and are putting in place a business structure that ensures our new partnership will deliver maximum value for shareholders,” Heinz Haller, a Dow executive vice president to whom Hamilton will report, said in a statement.

“George has a proven track record of success in activating and leading new business models. He is uniquely qualified to drive Dow's success in this important effort."

Hamilton joined Dow more than 30 years ago as a seller of plastics to the auto industry and has held positions in sales, marketing, application development and business operations.

The IOC partnership makes Dow the official chemistry company for the Olympic Movement through 2020. Dow will also partner with various national Olympic committees worldwide.

Dow’s Olympic involvement began in 1980 when it donated Styrofoam insulation for use in Lake Placid’s skating rinks and bobsled runs. The chemical company regularly sponsors U.S. Speedskating, USA Cycling and the USA Bobsled Team and was the Vancouver Organizing Committee’s official supplier for the 2010 Winter Games.

Mexico Leads Mayaguez Medal Count

Mexico (272) has extended its lead over Venezuela (250) and Colombia (205) in total metals won after nine days of action at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez.

Host Puerto Rico (107), the Dominican Republic (97), Guatemala (48) and El Salvador (44) round out the top of the leader board.

Mexico remains atop the gold medal count with 95.

VANOC Marketing Team Sticks Together

The Winter Games may have ended months ago, but Vancouver 2010’s marketing team isn’t done working together.

Six former VANOC employees have joined to form a sports and entertainment marketing and communications company.

The aptly named Twentyten Group is now open for business in Vancouver. A Toronto office will open in September.

Andrea Shaw, VANOC’s VP of sponsorship sales and marketing, is the company’s managing partner, and Bill Cooper, VANOC’s director of commercial rights management, will head the day-to-day operations.

Written by Matthew Grayson.

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