P&G Earnings; Dow Stadium Wrap; IOC Talks with McDonald's, Acer

P&G Report Earnings Up

Proctor & Gamble says its profits rose 15 percent for the fourth quarter.

Driven by sales growth and operating margin expansion, earnings per share were up 18 percent over last quarter at $ 0.84 per share. Fourth quarter sales increased 10 percent to $20.9 billion.

"We are pleased with the strong top- and bottom-line performance in the quarter," said Chairman, President and CEO Bob McDonald.

"We delivered organic sales growth of five percent and earnings per share growth of 18 percent in a challenging environment, driven by our ongoing commitment to make a difference in the everyday lives of the world's consumers."

IOC Member in Talks to Extend McDonald’s Sponsorship

IOC member Gerhard Heiberg tells Around the Rings he hopes to renew McDonald’s worldwide Olympic sponsorship soon.

Heiberg spoke to ATR in Chicago where he is attending the World Olympic Collectors Fair. And while in Chicago, he also spent time with McDonald's at its world headquarters.

Heiberg, who chairs both the IOC marketing and collectors' commissions, is also going to Taiwan at the end of this month to discuss sponsorships in Asia. Taiwan is home to Acer, the computer firm that’s also a candidate for TOP sponsor renewal.

Heiberg acknowledges that the IOC probably will not get a 12th sponsor for the 2014/2016 quadrennial. "So we will stick to the 11 we have now."

Heiberg says that many of the companies are asking to extend their agreements beyond 2020, but the IOC has so far refused.

"Nobody is going beyond 2020," he says. "It is because we may decide to change the (TOP) program. It started in 1985 and it is still on. Maybe we should look for other possibilities after 2020, or maybe we stay with it."

Dow To Produce 2012 Olympic Stadium Wrap

Dow Chemical will produce a sustainable, fabric wrap to encircle the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium after inking the last major sponsorship for the London Games in a deal worth around $10 million.

The one-kilometer wrap will be comprised of 336 panels, each about 25 meters high and 2.5 meters wide. It will be installed by spring 2012.

A LOCOG spokesman told Around the Rings that Olympic organizers are now considering how to display graphics and art on the panels as originally conceived.

London 2012 will work with Dow and stadium architects Populous on the project. High-profile British artists and local schools could be invited to design some of the panels.

Dow’s Performance Plastics Division will use materials for the panels that are up to 35 percent lighter and have a lower carbon footprint when compared to conventional materials. The wrap will include post-industrial recycled content and the hardware used to hang the wrap will be recycled in Europe following the Games.

George Hamilton, vice president of Dow Olympic Operations, said the company is committed to finding a sustainable post-Games use for the wrap and is investigating several options.

"Our goal is to provide solutions that help make the Olympic Gamesmore sustainable, safer and that will help improve performance," said Hamilton in a statement.

"We’re providing this wrap as a sustainable solution for the Games and we look forward to celebrating its completion with Olympic fans around the world. We’re proud that the wrap will have a lasting and sustainable legacy, and one that will improve quality of life long after the closing ceremonies."

Russian Team Gets New Logo

The Russian Olympic Committee is promoting a new brand for "Team Russia."

According to sports.ru, the logo features a bear and so far has cost about $170,000 to develop. It was designed by Mildberry Sports Lab, which specializes in marketing in Russia.

ROC will also launch a national advertising campaign in September using television networks and the internet for an estimated $5 million.

HiltonSponsors Chinese NOC

Hotel giant Hilton will put up Team China and their families for reduced rates through at least 2019.

"We are honored to have Hilton Worldwide’s loyalty program as our official hotel sponsor of the Chinese Olympic Committee," COC vice president Yang Shuan said in a statement.

"The level of competitive sports in China has reached a new height, and having a partner like Hilton Worldwide will help foster athlete development and further promote the Olympic Movement."

Olympic gold medalists Yang Yang and Tao Luna joined COC and Hilton executive at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai to announce the eight-year deal.

Panasonic Supports Hopeful Olympian

Heptathlete Louise Hazel is partnering up with Panasonic through March 2013.

Panasonic will provide the athlete for AV equipment that will be used for coaching and technical analysis, and Hazel will participate in media and internal events.

"As an athlete preparing for a home Olympic Games, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m thrilled to sharing my journey with Panasonic," said Hazel.

Last year, Hazel won the Commonwealth Games in the heptathlon, a track and field competition with several different events including 100 meter hurdles, javelin and long jump.

PROSKE Gets New Account Director

Christian Fuchs will serve as the Account Director for the hospitality company PROSKE | sports.

PROSKE provides hospitality programs for sponsors and corporate customers at sporting events. Fuchs will focus on its International and Local Hospitality & Ticketing Management Program at UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine for sponsor Coca-Cola.

Fuchs worked in hospitality at the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and 2010, UEFA Euro 2008 and the most recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Written by Ann Cantrell.