RE: IFF IBM's at the Olympics....

["Boling, David E." <bolingde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

*********Official Story****************
It was known before Sydney's 2000 games that IBM would bow out of the
Olympics. That it wasn't cost effective marketing  anymore.

************NOW the Real Story***************
IBM and IOC had a falling out over the rights to Olympics.com (which IBM
built).  The IOC wanted to be able to market it and IBM wanted exclusive
marketing rights.  Also IBM wanted to do everything or nothing, i.e.. they
wanted to be a Integrator instead of a hardware supplier.  This goes with
Sam Palmisano direction as stated at "Partnering for Leadership in the
Marketplace".
************************************************

I did hear the main person responsible for organizing the Utah games say
that it "it has went so well this year, ...even the computers,yada, yada,
yada" or something to that effect.  It seems like there was a hidden meaning
there to IBM.

-----Original Message-----

I'm remembering the same thing.  IBM wasn't just a technology provider,
they were an major sponsor of the Olympics.  They spent large sums of
money and worked their butts off.  I believe they decided that the money
and effort could be better invested elsewhere.

Andy Nolen-Parkhouse

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