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Toyota set to end massive Olympic sponsorship deal; unhappy over how IOC spent funds: report

42 Comments
By STEPHEN WADE

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42 Comments
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I’m sure another automaker, probably Chinese, will step in so no real loss.

-34 ( +8 / -42 )

Someone finally not happy with IOC?

-9 ( +28 / -37 )

Toyota knows it’s a scam…

10 ( +42 / -32 )

Wow, Big Mistake!??

This will widely open the door for BYD Electric Automaker and give them the opportunity of a life time to promote their products.

-26 ( +6 / -32 )

Unfortunately the IOC is so unscrupulous that you'll likely see just see the likes Coke, Nestle and probably Google/Microsoft picking up the slack.

13 ( +22 / -9 )

The whole Olympics boondoggle needs a haircut.

Good for Toyota.

I don't see an event that happens every 4 years as crucial to marketing for a giant like Toyota.

32 ( +41 / -9 )

Toyota got egg on their faces from the last around with Covid and such. More people got sick than there should've been. They're embarrassed from it.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

The Olympics is and always has been a scam, from the bribery to get the venue to the farce drug testing on athletes. Just circus.

13 ( +27 / -14 )

Fallout from Abe's defining moment continues its ugly course

-1 ( +18 / -19 )

I'm liking this company more and more. So many scandals, broken promises, and lies that Toyota is walking away with it's money and principles is nice to see.

23 ( +27 / -4 )

@Speed: I'm liking this company more and more

When I used to own cars, Toyotas were among the best I had, ticked all the boxes.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

@: Chinese, will step in so no real loss

And pay enough to the IOC nabobs to be able to control drugs testing?

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Bach is pure trash.

11 ( +21 / -10 )

The uneducated …….should learn about WADA - World Anti Doping Agency!

Thank you Jim, I think we’re all aware of WADA, but also it’s waving through the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive prior to the Tokyo Olympics. Hence the scepticism about international bodies’ relationships with China.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

The IOC is a corrupt organization making $$ off the backs of innocent athletes.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

IOC corruption is well documented, good on you Toyota, others should follow suit.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

Personally I'd like each medalist to be tested before being awarded the medal.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Toyota was unhappy with the way sponsorship money was used by the IOC.

Yeh no doubt the money was used to support the IOC themselves not the athletes they are meant to represent!

10 ( +12 / -2 )

The end of the Olympic dream.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

May many more companies follow.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

I'm with Toyota on this one. IOC is the most corrupt sport institution in the world. They are making billions, while they do ZERO investments in Olympic sports. Those money are also divided between the leadership and the Top 10 country representatives as bonuses and other dirty money. The corruption there is so rampant, it feels like (it is actually) a mob like organisation.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

Good move by Toyota. Why sink money into this corrupt cesspit? They clearly see that more and more members of the general public see the Olympics as on the nose, and aren't getting value for their investment as a result.

As for a Chinese motor company taking over from Toyota, who cares? Let them waste their money, and if people are dumb enough to buy these deathtraps, serves them right.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Toyota knew who they were doing business with, but it was very convenient for them to tie the brand to Tokyo Olympics. Being this Japan Inc this contract was probably a part of the deal.

The news agency, quoting the sources, said the money was "not used effectively to support athletes and promote sports.”

I don't believe such altruism exists at that business level. That's just nice PR.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Good for them. This is probably a better endorsement for Toyota than even its commercials--sorry for the overstatement. But good move Toyota.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

@R: probably Chinese, will step in so no real loss.

With more money from China, expect doping standards to be written to favor the largest donor, and its partner with the largest number of nukes.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Personally I'd like each medalist to be tested before being awarded the medal.

That is usually what they do and is completely pointless. The don't dope on the event day. They use PEDs in the build up. Testing on the day is circus to show they are "serious" about testing.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The public should stop being the enablers of this corrupt, dirty organization.

Don’t watch the “Olympics”. Don’t give it any attention.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Japanese major TV channels still want to beautify and deify Olympics despite criticism against corruption or "Baron Von Ripper-off", They avoid even treating this news despite big topics that decision of Japan's famous large corporation.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I hope other companies follow. This is setting an example. The IOC is corrupt. There is no doubt to that.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The L. A Olympics are in 2028 and the Brisbane Olympics are in 2032.

I wonder what the local Olympic organizing committees are making of Toyota's (totally sane) move?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Toyota is supplying 3,000 fuel-cell vehicles for the Paris Games to show off its green technology.

Toyota does not promote green technology. Just the contrary.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

A flat but still remarkable learning curve. lol

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Truth is they got tired of Bach embezzling millions from them and cut him off .!.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

You are just blaming it on the gaijin: Bach.

Reminds me of fiascos like Nissan, Olympus, and Mt. Gox. The only one held accountable is the foreigner, while Japanese executives often avoid indictment.

Tsunekazu Takeda, former head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, $2 million

Haruyuki Takahashi, former executive of the Japanese advertising giant Dentsu, $8.2 million

Joji Masui, former head of the consulting company Amuse.

Dentsu, ADK Holdings, ....the list goes on and on.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

The IOC is basically just a criminal syndicate.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Personally I'd like each medalist to be tested before being awarded the medal.

That is usually what they do and is completely pointless. The don't dope on the event day. They use PEDs in the build up. Testing on the day is circus to show they are "serious" about testing.

They also do unannounced tests at random times of the year

Remember that incident with the Chinese swimmer Sun Yang who got his blood drawn during an unannounced drug test in 2018, but he smashed the vials of blood. He was originally suspended for 8 years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2020, but the ban was reduced on appeal to 4 years and 3 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2021.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Actually behind Toyota on this one.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"not used effectively to support athletes and promote sports.”

LOL, how is that a billions-dollar company just realized this ?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

They also do unannounced tests at random times of the year..

They do but you can legally "miss" two of these tests and still be safe. So if you are in your doping stage of training, don't answer the door to the testers. There is also micro dosing that falls below the red card limit but still boosts performance.. Some countries make more of an effort but others (Jamaica) have laughable facilities.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They also do unannounced tests at random times of the year..

They do but you can legally "miss" two of these tests and still be safe. So if you are in your doping stage of training, don't answer the door to the testers

But they can test ya unlimited number of times

That means if ya "miss" two, they can show up at your door the very next day - and ya can't "miss" another one

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Russian Olympic committee can tell you how to cheat the Olympics with doping. They were doping their whole team.

despicable.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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