It costs a lot of money to run an Olympic Games. VANOC, the organizing body for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, estimates a cost of $2 billion CAD. That money, along with equipment and expertise, comes from a multi-tiered sponsorship program.
The Olympic Partnership (TOP) Program for Vancouver 2010
World-wide Olympic partners are at the top of the chain, the largest donors to Vancouver 2010:
- Coca-Cola – Coke is the Olympic movement's longest continuous corporate sponsorship
- Acer – supplier of laptop computers and other electronics
- Atos Origin – Worldwide Information Technology partner
- General Electric – Worldwide Partner for Power Generation and Distribution, Security, Lighting, and more.
- Omega – Official Timekeeper
- Panasonic – supplier of digital AV and TV equipment
- Samsung – wireless communications equipment and services
- VISA – credit card and financial services
National Partners for 2010 Games
These Canadian corporations offer financial support, equipment and services but at a lower level than TOP sponsors.
- Bell – Canada's largest communications company, and Telecommunications Partner to VANOC
- Hudson's Bay Company – General Retail Merchant, the Bay designed and manufactured the official uniforms, outfitted the athlete's villages, and sells souvenir merchandise
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) – Official Investment/Retail Banking partner
- General Motors Canada (GM) – Official Vehicle Partner, providing fleet vehicles
- Petro-Canada – Official Oil and Gas Partner fueling construction and fleet vehicles
- RONA – Official Home Improvement Partner
Official Supporters of 2010 Winter Olympics
Official supporters provide a lot of the nuts-and-bolts equipment and services that make an Olympic Games run on a day-to-day basis.
- Air Canada – Official Airline, provides passenger air transport & ticketing services
- BC Hydro – Electrical equipment and staff for electricity supply
- Bombardier – Designed and manufactured the Olympic Torcyes
- BCLC – British Columbia Lottery Corporation is “Official Lottery and Gaming provider”
- Canadian Pacific – Rail Freight Services Provider
- ICBC – Insurance Corporation of British Columbia insures VANOC's veguckes
- Jet Set Sports – Official Hospitality Services provider
- Ricoh Canada – Official Document Solutions provider (document workflow)
- Royal Canadian Mint – Produces the athlete's medals, souvenir coins
- Teck Resources – Official Mining and Metals provider for the medals
Official Suppliers to Vancouver 2010
Thirty-five corporate sponsors are designated as Official Suppliers. They deliver specific products or services to the 2010 Winter Games and in exchange receive exclusive marketing rights.
The list of products ranges from large format graphics and industrial safety equipment to security products, groceries, and wine; the services include water management, electricity and natural gas supply, venue management, and accounting.
Print Media Supporters for 2010 Games
The growth of media has paralleled and even permitted the growth of the Olympics through improved reporting and increased advertising potential.
- Canwest – Official Regional Newspaper Publisher for print and online advertising
- The Globe and Mail – National Print Sponsor
- La Presse – Gesca Ltée provides French media advertising
Although there are many critics of the modern Olympic movement and its corporate involvement, it might also be argued that without such sponsorship the Olympic Games could not be produced.
Related Articles
International Partners at Vancouver 2010 Games – A more detailed look at members of the TOP program (The Olympic Partners) and their contributions to the games. The list features big names like GE, Panasonic, Samsung, VISA and others.
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