Sports sponsorship
FILE - Staff members rehearse a victory ceremony at the Beijing Medals Plaza of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China on Jan. 3, 2022. The Beijing Winter Olympics are fraught with potential hazards for major sponsors, who are trying to remain quiet about China's human rights record while protecting at least $1 billion they've paid to the IOC. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
IOC major sponsors mostly muted in runup to Beijing Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jan. 11, 2022 12:11 AM EST

Team Shuster's Chris Plys raises his arms in celebration as the final rock lands in the house to solidify Team Shuster's victory over Team Dropkin during the third night of finals at the U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. Team Shuster won the match and will represent Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Sex toy ads removed from ice at Olympic curling qualifier

By Jimmy Golen Dec. 10, 2021 02:19 PM EST

FILE - A police officer wearing a face mask and goggles to protect against COVID-19, stands near a poster of a skier on the wall at a train station in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei Province, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. China is threatening to take “firm countermeasures" if the U.S. proceeds with a diplomatic boycott of February's Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Monday accused U.S. politicians of grandstanding over the issue of not sending dignitaries to attend the events that China hopes will showcase its economic development. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Column: US dignitaries shun Olympics. What about sponsors?

By Jim Litke Dec. 07, 2021 03:57 AM EST

FILE - The logos for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics are seen during an exhibit at a visitors center at the Winter Olympic venues in Yanqing on the outskirts of Beijing, Feb. 5, 2021. Leading sponsors of the Beijing Winter Olympics should explain publicly why they remain silent about alleged human rights abuses in China with the Games opening there in just under three months, Human Rights Watch said Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 in a statement. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Sponsors asked to defend support for Beijing Winter Olympics

By Stephen Wade Nov. 11, 2021 08:44 PM EST

The Olympic Flame burns at the cauldron in front of ancient Parthenon temple atop of the Acropolis hill in Athens, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. The flame will be transported by torch relay to Beijing, China, which will host the Feb. 4-20, 2022 Winter Olympics.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Rights activists urge boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

By Nicholas Paphitis Oct. 19, 2021 03:45 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, exile Tibetans use the Olympic Rings as a prop as they hold a street protest against the holding of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in Dharmsala, India. Some of the world’s largest broadcasters including American network NBC are being asked to cancel plans to cover the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing over alleged human rights abuses in the country. The Games open on Feb. 4. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, File)
Broadcasters urged to cancel plans to cover Beijing Olympics

By Stephen Wade Sep. 07, 2021 11:26 PM EDT

The United States women's water polo team poses with their gold medals after defeating Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
US coach worried about future of collegiate water polo

By Jay Cohen Aug. 07, 2021 12:15 PM EDT

Taylor Campbell, of Britain, competes in qualifications for the men's hammer throw at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Athlete auctions Olympic smartphone to fund training costs

Aug. 07, 2021 08:07 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 27, 2021, file photo, people walk past the National Stadium in Tokyo. The price tag for the Tokyo Olympics is $15.4 billion. Tokyo built eight new venues. The two most expensive were the National Stadium, which cost $1.43 billion, and the new aquatic center, priced a $520 million. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
Tokyo Olympics cost $15.4 billion. What else could that buy?

By Stephen Wade Aug. 06, 2021 10:11 PM EDT

Germany's Nike Lorenz wears a rainbow emblazoned shin guard as she passes the ball during a women's field hockey match against India at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Athletes fight limits on endorsements at Tokyo Olympics

By James Ellingworth Aug. 04, 2021 10:27 AM EDT

People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk across a shopping alley near Ueno Station in Tokyo Friday, July 30, 2021. Japan is set to expand the coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo to neighboring areas and the western city of Osaka on Friday in the wake of a record-breaking surge in infections while the capital hosts the Olympics. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya)
EXPLAINER: Detailing Japan's new COVID state of emergency

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 30, 2021 03:25 AM EDT

File- This April 27, 2021, file photo shows a Visa sign displayed on the front door of a local business in Urbandale, Iowa. Simone Biles’ sponsors including Athleta and Visa are lauding her decision to put her mental health first and withdraw from the gymnastics team competition during the Olympics. It’s the latest example of sponsors praising athletes who are increasingly open about mental health issues. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Olympic sponsors praise Simone Biles after withdrawal

By Mae Anderson Jul. 29, 2021 12:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, exile Tibetans use the Olympic rings as a prop as they hold a protest against the holding of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, in Dharmsala, India. Facing the boycott-threatened Beijing Winter Olympics in just over six months, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday, July 28, that its only responsibility was to “deliver the Games" and not to monitor human rights. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, File)
IOC sponsors facing heat over Beijing Olympics, human rights

By Stephen Wade Jul. 28, 2021 05:40 AM EDT

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, leaves center court after being defeated by Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, during the third round of the tennis competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Disbelief, support in Japan after Naomi Osaka's elimination

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 27, 2021 04:06 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 13, 2021, file photo, a delivery man pushes a cart full of packages as he passes by a business with Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics posters displayed on the windows in Tokyo. How are we to judge the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up in two weeks? It's a straightforward question but it's difficult to answer. That's because there are many interests involved. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Tokyo Olympics: A success? A failure? And how to judge?

By Stephen Wade Jul. 26, 2021 02:00 PM EDT

United States' Dustin Johnson looks at the line of his putt on the 18th green during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's golf course Sandwich, England, Saturday, July 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Majors over and attention turns to Olympics, FedEx Cup

By Doug Ferguson Jul. 20, 2021 04:37 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 13, 2015 file photo, Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda, left, and IOC President Thomas Bach pose with a signed document during a press conference in Tokyo as Toyota signed on as a worldwide Olympic sponsor in a landmark deal, becoming the first car company to join the IOC's top-tier marketing program. Toyota won't be airing any Olympic-themed advertisements on Japanese TV during the Tokyo Games despite being one of the IOC's top corporate sponsors. The unusual decision by the country's top automaker underlines how polarizing the Games have become in Japan as COVID-19 infections rise ahead of the July 23, 2021, opening ceremony.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Olympic sponsor Toyota pulls Games-related TV ads in Japan

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 19, 2021 04:02 AM EDT

French surfer Johanne Defay stands for a portrait during World Surf League practice sessions at Surf Ranch on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Lemoore, Calif. Defay wouldn't consider herself a poor surfer -- her father, after all, is a doctor, and the mega surfing brand, Roxy, started sponsoring her when she was 12, which included training opportunities in Australia and Hawaii. But the Reunion Island native recalls how devastating it was to her career when the sponsorship deal ended right before she reached the professional WSL championship tour in 2014. "This is the sacrifice that I'm willing to do to be on the tour because it's my job, because it's my passion," Defay said. "I'm like trying to let the French surfers and the French girls know that it's possible. And maybe if we have more and more French (surfers)...then we have maybe more events there and maybe more support and maybe more sponsorship." (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Olympic surfing: Can the exclusive sport become accessible?

By Sally Ho Jul. 15, 2021 12:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, July 10, 2021, file photo, the Olympic rings are illuminated outside the Narita International Airport prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics near Tokyo. The Olympic corporate sponsorship program has been a key part of the Olympic experience since it began in 1985. But all that magic from the Olympic sponsorship is being undermined because of the virus. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Olympic sport of schmoozing eludes corporate sponsors

By Anne D'innocenzio Jul. 15, 2021 11:03 AM EDT

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike shows up to support a candidate from her Tomin First party on the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election day in Tokyo on Sunday, July 4, 2021. Voters in Japan's capital are electing the Tokyo city assembly amid worries about health risks during the Olympics, opening in three weeks, as coronavirus cases continue to rise. (Kyodo News via AP)
Tokyo assembly split after vote amid pandemic Olympics fears

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 03, 2021 10:55 PM EDT