Chinese Olympics Commercial Endorsement Fallout Begins

We have an old saying, "It could not happen to a nicer guy." Seems that Human Rights abuses and people bringing them to the attention of the world does make a difference. Three of the largest corporate sponsors of the Flame of Shame have pulled out of the deal leaving even more egg on the face of the shamed Chinese Government, on the face of the IOC for ever giving Beijing the Olympics in the first place...now we need other responsible corporations to follow suit and leave China holding the bag in funding the Olympics of Shame. Things do go better with Coke, especially when they have the balls to "Just Say No."

3 of the Biggest Sponsors Ditch China's Torch

by pete_sftuk @ 18/04/08 - 14:04:54

Three of the biggest sponsors of the Olympic Torch Relay; Coca-cola, Lenovo and Samsung, have pulled out of the Japanese leg of the international torch relay amid fears that they may be targetted by protestors.

A spokesperson for Coca-cola stated that they would be unable to operate under the 'maximum security' environment of the Torch Relay in Japan. This news comes after monks at the Zenkoji Temple in Nagano said that due to China's violent repression of the protests in Tibet, the Temple could no longer be used as the starting point for the relay in Japan.

This is the first sign of that sponsors of the Olympics have been affected by the situation in China and Tibet, though naturally none of them stated that as their reason. Samsung were concerend about the procssion being too long and Lenovo cited 'budgetary restraints'.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article3771039.ece