The International Olympic Committee has signed Anheuser-Busch InBev as the first beer brand in the 40-year history of its sponsorship program, which earns billions of dollars for the organization and international sports. The deal was announced Friday by the IOC and AB InBev — the Belgium-based brewing giant whose brands include Budweiser, Corona, Michelob and Modelo — for the next three Summer and Winter Games. The Paris Olympics open on July 26, and the deal also includes the 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy, then — the likely prize asset — the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Salt Lake City being preferred as a shoo-in to host the 2034 Winter Olympics was expected. The surprise was the IOC favoring the French Alps bid for the 2030 edition on Wednesday. Aiming to finalize back-to-back Winter Games hosts next year, the International Olympic Committee executive board has decided to enter exclusive talks with Olympic officials in France and the United States for Salt Lake City.
A dual award of the 2030 and 2034 Olympics got a ‘green light’ from IOC leaders, who want more time to study climate change impacts, including a possible rotation of future Winter Games. The decision shortens the wait for Salt Lake City’s bid for another Olympics.
Utah’s bidders for another Olympics are hoping the IOC will agree to a dual award of the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games during meetings that start this week in India. While the next Winter Games sites aren’t expected to be named at the meeting, rotating future Winter Games and climate change will be discussed.