P&G to Join IOC; Samsung, YOG Flame; BMW, USOC to Partner

P&G Set for Global Olympic Sponsorship

U.S. company Procter & Gamble is set to become the newest IOC sponsor, according to AP.

P&G will announce the sponsorship in London Wednesday. The announcement would come less than 2 weeks after the IOC signed Dow Chemicals on as a TOP sponsor.

The consumer products company is already a sponsor for the U.S. Olympic Committee and launched an aggressive marketing campaign for the Vancouver Olympics. That deal lasts through the 2012 London Olympics.

Reports indicated that P&G would begin a major campaign promoting its sponsorship starting at the London Olympics.

The sponsorship would bring the total number of TOP sponsors to 11.

Samsung Sponsors Youth Olympic Flame Journey

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympics sponsor Samsung will host the international leg of the Youth Olympic Flame journey during the next two weeks.

The Youth Olympic Flame was lit at Ancient Olympia in Greece Friday.

"With this flame we are charting a new path to share Olympic values and the joy of sport with young people around the world," IOC President Jacques Rogge said at the ceremony.

The YOG flame will now travel to one city in each continent on a 13-day trek. It starts today in Berlin and then travels to Dakar, Mexico City, Auckland and Seoul before arriving in Singapore Aug. 6 for a six-day torch relay around the island nation.

Samsung will sponsor activities at city celebrations during the five city journey.

"As a long time supporter of the Olympic Movement, Samsung is giving its full support to ensure that the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an unprecedented success and a landmark event in Singapore’s sporting history," Gregory Lee, CEO of Samsung Asia said.

BMW To Partner With USOC

BMW, already the exclusive automotive sponsor of London 2012, will announce a multi-year partnership Monday with the USOC.

Jack Pitney, Vice President of Marketing of BMW of North America; Lisa Baird, the USOC’s Chief Marketing Officer; and Olympic speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno will make the announcement at BMW of Manhattan.

BMW will also announce specific sponsorship plans and how its support will enhance Team USA’s training and performance.

Besides its London sponsorship, BMW is said to be in discussion with the IOC to become the first worldwide Olympic sponsor in the automotive category.

Panasonic Celebrates Two Years to London

TOP sponsor Panasonic has planned a celebration for the two year to go mark in London.

The audio and visual equipment sponsor will host "Get Ready for London 2012" in Trafalgar Square July 27.

The event will include Olympic footage from recent Olympic Games shown on Panasonic’s Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater system.

"We are excited about continuing this partnership with Panasonic for London 2012," Paul Deighton, LOCOG CEO said.

"Panasonic’s Full HD 3D technology shows us great opportunity for both sport and technology by capturing the passion of sport like never before and delivering an outstanding viewing experience for fansacross the world."

Dextro Partners with Bike Supplier

The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series has partnered with bike supplier Specialized Bicycles for the rest of the 2010 season ahead of its event in London, July 24-25.

Specialized Bicycles will be the official bike partner for the remaining Series events.

"Specialized has been a big supporter of triathlon since the sport began almost 40 years ago, and partnering with triathlon’s premier events series was the next step in our long-standing commitment to the sport," Bobby Behan, Specialized Sports Marketing Manager for Triathlon.

The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship series began in 2009 and is a series of world champion races. This season’s stops include Sydney, Seoul, Madrid and London this weekend.

The women's event is Saturday, July 24 and the men's event is Sunday, July 25.

Briefs…

...Marriott International will provide hotel rooms for USA Swimming under its sponsorship. It will also provide USA Swimming with special member benefits.

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