Rostelecom and Megaphone have become sponsors of the Sochi Olympic Games
OAO Rostelecom and OAO Megaphone became the first Russian sponsors of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. A sponsorship agreement was signed with the Sochi-2014 Organizing Committee on Saturday. It is a record sponsorship contract at the national level worth $260 million. In addition, the companies will invest $200 million in the development of Sochi's telecom infrastructure.
The Organizing Committee started selecting national sponsors last December. Applications were accepted from banks, gasmen, metallurgists, oilmen, and telecom companies, as well as clothing and footwear companies. By tradition, each sector can be represented by just one sponsor. The organizers of the Sochi Olympiad set a precedent by picking two telecommunications companies. The reason is simple: because Rostelecom is not represented in the mobile communications market, that niche will be filled by Megaphone. In addition to Megaphone, the title of mobile operator for Olympiad 2014 was contested by the two other "big three" operators, MTS and Vympelcom. Eventually, however, both companies pulled out of the auction. Rostelecom's bid was also unchallenged.
Rostelecom and Megaphone are now general partners of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and of the Russian Olympic Committee. In addition, Rostelecom and Megaphone will be general partners of the Russian Olympic squad at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the 2012 Games in London, the 2014 Games in Sochi, and the 2016 Games (venue yet to be determined).
Sponsorship contracts with Russian companies will be the main source of the Organizing Committee's funding. There will be about 10 top-class national sponsors claiming rights similar to those granted to Rostelecom and Megaphone. Another 10 companies will be second-tier sponsors and yet another 10-15 companies will be third-tier sponsors, bringing the total number of Sochi Olympiad sponsors at the national level to 30-35. The Sochi Games will also have 10 international sponsors with which contracts will be signed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They include the constant partners of the Olympic movement, whose adverts are displayed at all IOC sporting events. As of this writing, the Coca-Cola Company, Samsung Electronics, and Panasonic Corp. have extended their contracts with the IOC until 2014. However, the IOC uses the lion's share of the revenues from contracts with international sponsors to develop the Olympic movement in general.
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TRUCKS WILL BE TRACKED BY GLONASS
The signing of sponsorship contracts was timed for a visit to Sochi by the IOC Coordinating Commission, which monitors the preparation for the Olympics. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin received the Commission's head, Jean-Claude Killy, and promised him that Russia has enough money to build Sochi's stadiums and infrastructure. Taking to the wheel of a Mercedes, Vladimir Putin drove Mr.Killy along the Dzhubga-Sochi bypass road (the road is to be completed by November). Transport Minister Igor Levitin promised Mr Putin and Mr Killy to fit all the trucks used in the preparation for the 2014 Games with the GLONASS navigation system to improve coordination and speed up the building of Olympic facilities.
Maxim Tovkailo