NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.halifaxherald.com/stories/2004/08/08/f202.raw.html

Olympian struggle
Fans face boot for eating or drinking wrong brands at games

By MARK FRANCHETTI / The Sunday Times

In a far cry from the high-minded ideals of humanity and tolerance embodied by the Olympics, the organizers of the Athens games have warned spectators that they could be barred for taking a surreptitious sip of Pepsi or an illicit bite from a Burger King Whopper.

Strict regulations published by Athens 2004 last week dictate that spectators may be refused admission to events if they are carrying food or drinks made by companies that did not see fit to sponsor the games.

Sweltering sports fans who seek refuge from the soaring temperatures with a soft drink other than one made by Coca-Cola will be told to leave the banned refreshment at the gates or be shut out. High on the list of blacklisted beverages is Pepsi, but even the wrong bottle of water could land spectators in trouble.

Fans will be allowed into the Olympic complex if they are drinking Avra, a Greek mineral water owned by Coca-Cola, which paid $60 million US for the privilege of being one of the main sponsors. Officials are under orders not to let in rival brands' bottles unless the labels are removed.

Staff will also be on the lookout for T-shirts, hats and bags displaying the unwelcome logos of non-sponsors. Stewards have been trained to detect people who may be wearing merchandise from the sponsors' rivals in the hope of catching the eyes of television audiences. Those arousing suspicion will be required to wear their T-shirts inside out.

Known as the "clean venue policy," the rules were drawn up by the Greeks and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to shield sponsors from so-called "ambush marketing" - an attempt to advertise items during the games without paying sponsorship fees.

The restrictions on food and drink are intended to ensure that only items made by official sponsors such as McDonald's and two Greek dairy firms are consumed at Olympic venues.

An official familiar with the restrictions said: "We have to protect official sponsors who have paid millions to make the Olympics happen. There will be cases of individual spectators being allowed in wearing a T-shirt bearing the logo of a rival sports brand but anyone who tries to practise ambush marketing will be removed."

This will also apply to members of a crowd sitting next to each other wearing clothing with letters that spell out a political or religious message.

The restrictions, which have drawn criticism from Amnesty International, are even harsher for the thousands of stewards and volunteers working at Athens 2004 who have been supplied with uniforms but no shoes.

"We have to provide our own shoes and we were told that we shouldn't wear trainers with a bright logo from a sports brand which is not an official sponsor like Adidas," said one.

The main sponsors of the games have paid more than $1 billion in total for exclusive advertising rights and privileges, including the use of the Olympic logo under their brand names. It is not even possible to buy a ticket to the Olympics using a credit card other than Visa, which paid more than $30 million for its exclusive rights.

Other brands can display small logos if they are sponsoring a national team or an individual athlete, but official sponsors have turned some of the games' most famous names into walking billboards.

The image of Michael Phelps, the American swimmer aiming to win seven gold medals, has even appeared on Visa cards. All American medal winners are required to wear an Adidas outfit on the podium, according to the company's sponsorship contract with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Kostas Giannis, a Greek sports fan, said: "I don't see why, after all the money that Greek taxpayers will end up paying to host the games, McDonald's should dictate what I can eat in my own city."

That's... incredibly sad. o_O;;

Meh ... corporate sponsorship has always been a part of the Olympics ... ever since the very beginning in the ancient Greek days ...

You know--there isn't an NBC broadcast affiliate here in San Francisco, and I don't have cable, so I haven't seen one second of the Olympics yet. And I haven't missed it one bit.

I dont Drink Coke Products...cos they pay the Jewish Tax...

So i guess...If I was In Athens I would be Drinking Pepsi...In the Face of the Gatekeepers...

I dont Drink Coke Products...cos they pay the Jewish Tax...


There's a jewish tax? What, did they have to make sure Coca-Cola wasn't liquid pork or something?!

I dont Drink Coke Products...cos they pay the Jewish Tax...


Jewish .......... tax?

There's a tax for being Jewish? I admit that being Jewish can be taxing ... but ...


Oh! You must mean this thing ... http://www.snopes.com/racial/business/kosher.htm

There's a jewish tax? ?!
In 1959, the Wall Street Journal estimated this "tax" at about $20 million and it is thought to be in the hundreds of millions today. The Jewish Post of July 30, 1976 reported that Rabbi Harvey Sentor admitted that Kov K was a "profit-making concern."

Point in fact.
The stadium is not an open public space it is a venue.
I dont how it is there but here, you cant just take things into venues that sell stuff already(they want you to spend your money inside).
I know plenty of places that only take Visa or onle take Mastercard.
The shoe thing is kind of bullshit, but I work at place that says I cant wear tennis shoes, and so do those volunteers now.
Fine remove commercialazation.
Have the games in an empty lot, or the Greek taxpayers like the idiot complaining about Mcdonalds can pay the WHOLE bill.
Mike phelps can train at the local public pool, with the kids and old people.
Instead of having to wear an Adidas uniform they can buy what ever they want to wear, out of their own pockets.
Wow, those olympics would suck!
I will stick with VISA and Adidas Olympics.
The winners get sposorships and some cash for their efforts(which is more then fair)
The get good training equipment.
They get a good venue.
Bastard coporations, making it easier on those atheletes.

does it seem to anyone else that more and more threads are being hijacked by the "international zionist conspiracy" nutz?

anyway

the pricetag for hosting the olympics is incredible, esp for a small country like greece. i heard on the TV that it is approximately $1000 for every man woman and child in greece.

sure sponsorship has always existed but i thought it was a bit MUCH when in the 384bc games the sponsored drink was hemlock and anyone caught drinking anything else was executed!

Jewish .......... tax?

There's a tax for being Jewish?
This is a Tax that the few American Jewish and Muslims pay...But mostly American Christians Pay...

the Problem is that this "fee" only Benefits The Jewish.

does it seem to anyone else that more and more threads are being hijacked by the "international zionist conspiracy" nutz?

"international zionist conspiracy" nutz meet snopes, snopes this is "international zionist conspiracy" nutz.

Or would that involve learning something?

This is a Tax that the few American Jewish and Muslims pay...But mostly American Christians Pay...

the Problem is that this "fee" only Benefits The Jewish.

Yes... Jews and people who sell food products to them.

Oh! You must mean this thing ... http://www.snopes.com/racial/business/kosher.htm

This is a Tax that the few American Jewish and Muslims pay...But mostly American Christians Pay...

the Problem is that this "fee" only Benefits The Jewish.


Strange .... I'm Jewish .... I don't get any kickbacks from this "tax". I also pay the same price as everyone else does for a Coke.

Go read the snopes link I provided.

Why aren't you bitching about the "Nutrition Facts" label that has to be paid for by the company?

There is no "Jewish Tax" ...

Strange .... I'm Jewish .... I don't get any kickbacks from this "tax". Crhistians pay charities to Support Churches , Muslims pay charities to Support Mosques(muslim churches)...

Catholics and Mormons and Baptists and Muslims and Atheists we all pay this tax to support Jewish Sinagogues(jewish churches)...
as a result You Jewish pay less to support your Releigious Organizations...because we are all paying for you.

the games being to commerialized to religious anger....

you people need to get mad less

Crhistians pay charities to Support Churches , Muslims pay charities to Support Mosques(muslim churches)...

Catholics and Mormons and Baptists and Muslims and Atheists we all pay this tax to support Jewish Sinagogues(jewish churches)...
as a result You Jewish pay less to support your Releigious Organizations...because we are all paying for you.


That's just simply not true, but I'll bite. A Rabbi goes into the Coca-Cola plant to make sure everything's kosher about twice a year. Cost to Coca-Cola? About $250.

So .... for $500 per year, Coke gets to say it's kosher certified.

Wanna do the math on how much Coke makes in a year versus that measly $500? Add up that "tax", buddy.

There are approximately 14 million Jews in the world. So, each year, divided equally up among Jews, that comes to 0.00003 cents. Wow. I can buy that dream car!

That's just simply not true, but I'll bite. A Rabbi goes into the Coca-Cola plant to make sure everything's kosher about twice a year. Cost to Coca-Cola? About $250.

So .... for $500 per year, Coke gets to say it's kosher certified.

Wanna do the math on how much Coke makes in a year versus that measly $500? Add up that "tax", buddy.

There are approximately 14 million Jews in the world. So, each year, divided equally up among Jews, that comes to 0.00003 cents. Wow. I can buy that dream car!

And to quote snopes (hint)

Does certification add to the price of a product? Certainly, but the amount is miniscule, especially compared to the advertising, packaging, shipping, research, testing, admin and finance-related costs, and a myriad of other components that contribute to the process of bringing a product to market or making it better appeal to consumers. One might as well rail against the costs associated with selecting the ink colors and style of lettering used on a package — it's all legitimate business expense, even though no one ever rails against the "Secret Red Ink Conspiracy" or rants about the "Helvetica Font Tax."

... A Rabbi goes into the Coca-Cola plant to make sure everything's kosher about twice a year. Cost to Coca-Cola? About $250.Your Brain is telling you that the Jews charge Coca-Cola only $250? are you kidding me?

Your Brain is telling you that the Jews charge Coca-Cola only $250? are you kidding me?
Keruvalia...read it again...

In 1959, the Wall Street Journal estimated this "tax" at about $20 million and it is thought to be in the hundreds of millions today. The Jewish Post of July 30, 1976 reported that Rabbi Harvey Sentor admitted that Kov K was a "profit-making concern."

There are approximately 14 million Jews in the world.BTW...how many Jews is there in America...Cos the Tax is American money...

3%..?... just like the Muslims??

BTW...how many Jews is there in America...Cos the Tax is American money...

So is the Helvetica Font Tax.

So is the Helvetica Font Tax.whoever the Helvitican are or whatever that is...

More important...does it taxes to the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS?

Your Brain is telling you that the Jews charge Coca-Cola only $250? are you kidding me?

That's the going rate. Ask a Rabbi. Call one up and pretend to be a food manufactorer and ask. I'll wait. Call several ... get an average.

You think this service should be free? You have to pay for certain religious ceremonies from any clergy member. Want to get married by a Priest or Reverand? Gotta pay!

However, and this is very important so please pay attention ...

NO COMPANY IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN KASHRUT CERTIFICATION!!

In short, if you believe this imagined "tax" is real, don't blame Jews ... blame Coke ... they're the ones who called the Rabbi in the first place.

There are about 6 million Jews in the US, representing 2.3% of the population.

whoever the Helvitican are or whatever that is...

More important...does it taxes to the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS?

Read the snopes link…

You think this service should be free?I think Its a service TO THE JEWISH community...so who do I think should pay for it?...the Jewish community... 2.3% of the American pop...

If its only $250 we are talking about...why dont the Synagogues pay for it...just to avoid the controversy...like other religions do....Catholics dont charge Jews for Baptisms...or Marriages...or any other religion related services...they charge Catholics only....same for Baptists,Mormons,Muslims...And of course atheist should pay nada.

Why cant you Jews pay for your own religios expeses...after all its only $250.

BTW I do not think its only $250...And I also think that while Coke has the Logo...Pepsi cant have it...

*Pepsi-Corp CEO calling : "Hello...Could I have the Kosher Cert for $250..please"

*American Assosiation of Jewish Rabis: "Sure...sure...next avaible appointment is for september 14...2028,"..."please call us to confirm...our Old rabis forget sometimes...."

Read the snopes link…i did...there is several snoopes web sites...some are better than others...

In this case they dont refute the facts...they try to explain it as a Religion Need...
but...A religios Tax..is still a Tax.

yeah just like that UL tax that i pay to "someone" to make sure my electrical appliances dont kill me
damn them

yeah just like that UL tax that i pay to "someone" to make sure my electrical appliances dont kill me
damn themits not Overcharged...and more Important its a service for all...

unlike a service for the Jews paid by the others...(overcharged on top of that)

I think Its a service TO THE JEWISH community...so who do I think should pay for it?...the Jewish community... 2.3% of the American pop...

You cretin... no-one's OBLIGED to have their goods marked as being kosher, the only reason they do so would be to boost sales among Jewish consumers. It's like saying people who live in the middle of nowhere should pay less than people who live in cities, because they see less of the company's advertising budget. I mean, wtf?!

I would prefer my coke bottles to not have a label on them but OMGOMG the great paper pulp factory owners conpiracy have got together to take away MY money!!!!!11

If you're seriously trying to argue this as being a great economic injustice, I can tell you with no doubt in my mind that you are wrong. You can take my word for it.

If you're just looking for an excuse to whine about how Ze Jews are taking everyone's money (and, you know, are responsible for all America's problems, obviously), then why don't you just SAY that you're an asshole and we'll all understand each other, hm?

You cretin....the only reason they do so would be to boost sales among Jewish consumers.I have a few good Jewish friends...And none of them is even aware of this Kosher Logo...
If Coke-Corp wants to spend millions to boost sales among Jewish consumers...why dont they advertise that they have this Certification?...WHY?

Call Coke-corp..ask about the Logo... see if you get straigh answers.....

all I got was..."What logo?...what ist that?...I dont know about that...that is propietary information...can i have your number an authorized person will call you back..."

Just call them... (404)767-2121

I have a few good Jewish friends...And none of them is even aware of this Kosher Logo...
If Coke-Corp wants to spend millions to boost sales among Jewish consumers...why dont they advertise that they have this Certification?...WHY?

Call Coke-corp..ask about the Logo... see if you get straigh answers.....

all I got was..."What logo?...what ist that?...I dont know about that...that is propietary information...can i have your number an authorized person will call you back..."

Just call them... (404)767-2121

If you dont wanna call...you can ask here...VIA internet
http://questions.coca-cola.com/vrep/NSREExtended.asp

After severl Question without answer...they redirected me here:
http://www2.coca-cola.com/contactus/myths_rumors/middle_east_jewish.html
and here
http://www2.coca-cola.com/contactus/myths_rumors/middle_east_israel.html

but that does not answer the Jewish Tax Question...