'Acer beats Lenovo as Olympics sponsor'

[photopress:it_lenovo_olympic_games.jpg,full,alignright]The heading, which appeared in the Financial Times, is possibly totally misleading. It is true that Acer, the world’s third-largest personal computer vendor, is taking over from its close rival Lenovo to become a global sponsor of the Olympic Games - after the Beijing Olympic Games are over.

Acer will become one of 11 global sponsors for the Olympics from January 2009 to 2012. It will supply notebook and desktop computers and monitors to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London summer Games.

Acer probably is rattling the tin for US$100 million for the privilege and there will be many other costs associated with it.

One story is that Lenovo took a calculated decision. It wanted the Beijing Games because it is one of the great companies of China and needed the global exposure. But does it need to do it Games after Games at a price which must affect its annual profit? If you cannot get world exposure from one game then it seems unlikely you will get it from a series.

So Lenovo took the Beijing Games and the politely declined any further involvement after that. That story rings true which makes the Financial Times headline a nonsense.

There is a rumor, and it is only that, a rumor, that Lenovo was outbid by Acer for the continuing sponsorships. There is much doubt as to whether that is true and a general belief that Lenovo comes out of it ahead.
Source: Financial Times