Coke Gets Attacked For Olympic Sponsorship At Shareholder Meeting

AdAge runs an account of a Coke shareholder meeting where certain shareholders present launched an attack on the Board for Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of both the torch relay and its overall involvement as sponsor of the Olympic Games in Beijing. AdAge says:

“We’re not asking Coke to solve Tibet’s problems. We’re not asking you to make a political stand. … We’re not calling for the torch to be stopped, we’re saying it should not go to Tibet right now. … It will bring about bloodshed,” one shareholder said. “Taking the torch to Tibet right now is the height of irresponsibility. You’ll have blood on your hands.”

Mr. Isdell responded by noting that the IOC does not have control over the torch route. “Still, I believe it’s a torch of hope,” he said. “I don’t think stopping the torch run is the right thing to do in the long run.”

A representative of Amnesty International also called on the company to wield its power as a major sponsor to improve human rights in China. “China is using this Olympics as an excuse to go after peaceful opponents and dissidents,” that representative said. At that point, Mr. Isdell responded by saying simply, “We are not a political organization.”

Reporters Without Borders also took the opportunity to urge Coca-Cola to sign a “declaration of responsibility” that proposes that Olympic sponsors favor freedom in China, and create a fund to support families of political prisoners.

Olympic Torch Debate Flares at Coke Meeting - Advertising Age - News