Having just extended its sponsorship as a top-tier Olympics partner through 2020, McDonald's is rolling out its London 2012 marketing plan for the Games, including introducing a #mcolympics hashtag on Twitter to talk up its ongoing commitment to the IOC, which started with the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble.Continue reading...

As many as 25,000 people died in India back in 1984 due to the Union Carbide gas leak in Bhopal, and residents are still understandably upset about the experience that left many without family members, spouses, or friends.

In 1999, Carbide was bought by Dow Chemical, a purchase that Dow execs are likely muttering about to one another these days. The lasting unhappiness with Union is now being manifested in what seems to be a growing protest against Dow having anything to do with this summer’s Olympic Games in London.

Dow has forked over big bucks to be a top-tier IOC sponsor and was all set to “wrap” the main London 2012 Olympic stadium in a massive banner as part of its deal. However, the company responded to activists last month by scrapping to scraps its plans for the stadium wrap. That, apparently, has not been enough.Continue reading...

Many nations, such as the United States, won’t allow tobacco companies to advertise at sporting events. Japan is not one of those countries — and it may pay a big price for that.

Even though there is some debate about if hosting the Olympic Games is financially worth it, plenty of nations are always at the table when the International Olympic Committee is ready to dole out assignments for the next one.

Japan is often one of the ones pulling its chair up at those negotiation sessions. It last had the ginormous quadrennial sporting event when Nagano hosted the 1998 Winter Games and women’s hockey players and snowboarders got to go for gold for the first time.Continue reading...

The International Olympic Committee has been using "The Best of Us" as a tagline in its ongoing marketing campaign to promote the Olympic Games.

Now, with less than 250 days to go before the London 2012 summer games, the New York Times notes that, in addition to TV commercials, the IOC and London Olympic organizers are using the tagline as the basis of a global campaign "to reach younger viewers through social media, user-generated content and other digital offerings." The goal is not only to engage the public, but particularly youths, in London 2012 via the web, mobile and social media.Continue reading...

General Electric has decided to go “faster, higher, stronger” for another decade.

The 119-year-old brand co-founded by Thomas Edison has agreed to extend its Olympics sponsorship with “a four-games deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the Associated Press.

As with past Olympics, when it owned NBC to help reinforce its branding, viewers worldwide will get to see the GE logo in every place possible through the 2012 London Olympics, the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2018 Winter Games and 2020 Summer Olympics. The latter pair has not had their host cities selected, the AP points out.

The other current sponsors that will be involved with the Olympics through 2020 include Coca-Cola, Dow, Omega, Proctor & Gamble, and Visa.Continue reading...

Corona opens Roman hotel made with garbage as part of its Save the Beach project.

Obama took a swing at BP during Gulf spill site visit today, day 46, as oil begins to be siphoned.

Dow and P&G are close to signing on as 2012 London Olympics sponsors.

Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhone at Monday's WWDC event.

Chrsyler recalls Dodge Caliber over pedal concern.Continue reading...

Conde Nast shutters Gourmet, Cookie, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride. [NY Times]

Murdoch's News International tests paid web model with Times+ site, free to Times print subscribers. [Telegraph]

WPP's Sorrell urges International Olympic Committee to reach younger audiences by going online. [NY Times]

Brands recognize importance of iPhone apps, but not necessarily their purpose. [NY Times]

Wal-Mart reaps profits through bodega chains in Mexico. [Bloomberg]

Japan's Fast Retailing Co. experiences 6-year sales high as demand surges at Uniqlo. [Bloomberg]

Merrill Lynch brings the bull back to Wall Street with the "help2" campaign. [BrandWeek]

(More headlines: HSBC, France Telecom, Chrysler, Imus, tatler.)Continue reading...