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© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Toyota set to end massive Olympic sponsorship deal; unhappy over how IOC spent funds: report
By STEPHEN WADE TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
42 Comments
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リッチ
I’m sure another automaker, probably Chinese, will step in so no real loss.
sakurasuki
Someone finally not happy with IOC?
kurisupisu
Toyota knows it’s a scam…
WoodyLee
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.
tora
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.
GuruMick
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.
starpunk
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.
Mr Kipling
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.
Legrande
Fallout from Abe's defining moment continues its ugly course
Speed
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.
PTownsend
When I used to own cars, Toyotas were among the best I had, ticked all the boxes.
PTownsend
And pay enough to the IOC nabobs to be able to control drugs testing?
shogun36
Bach is pure trash.
Marc Penn
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.
WoodyLee
The IOC is a corrupt organization making $$ off the backs of innocent athletes.
Andy
IOC corruption is well documented, good on you Toyota, others should follow suit.
ian
Personally I'd like each medalist to be tested before being awarded the medal.
Sanjinosebleed
Yeh no doubt the money was used to support the IOC themselves not the athletes they are meant to represent!
Seigi
The end of the Olympic dream.
Toblerone
May many more companies follow.
DanteKH
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.
Bad Haircut
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.
koiwaicoffee
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.
I don't believe such altruism exists at that business level. That's just nice PR.
Dale Spenser
Good for them. This is probably a better endorsement for Toyota than even its commercials--sorry for the overstatement. But good move Toyota.
PTownsend
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.
Mr Kipling
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.
Toblerone
The public should stop being the enablers of this corrupt, dirty organization.
Don’t watch the “Olympics”. Don’t give it any attention.
4123
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.
masterblaster
I hope other companies follow. This is setting an example. The IOC is corrupt. There is no doubt to that.
garymalmgren
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?
NB
Toyota does not promote green technology. Just the contrary.
Sven Asai
A flat but still remarkable learning curve. lol
Steven Mccarthy
Truth is they got tired of Bach embezzling millions from them and cut him off .!.
lunatic
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.
BakabonPapa
The IOC is basically just a criminal syndicate.
lostrune2
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.
smithinjapan
Actually behind Toyota on this one.
kibousha
"not used effectively to support athletes and promote sports.”
LOL, how is that a billions-dollar company just realized this ?
Mr Kipling
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.
lostrune2
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
Strangerland
The Russian Olympic committee can tell you how to cheat the Olympics with doping. They were doping their whole team.
despicable.