Deloitte Announces Sponsorship of U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams
Official Professional Services Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the 2010 and 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams
Deloitte announced its sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the 2010 and 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, as well as the 2011 U.S. Pan American Team and the 2010 U.S. Team for the Youth Olympic Games. As a result of its commitment to provide the strengths of its organization for maximum social impact, Deloitte and its subsidiaries will provide support to help the USOC and U.S. Teams operate efficiently and successfully throughout their journey to the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan Am and Youth Olympic Games.
As the Official Professional Services Sponsor of audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services, Deloitte’s subsidiaries will contribute by offering a variety of in-kind professional services to the USOC.
“We believe the business community has a powerful role to play in answering the call to service to help nonprofit organizations deliver results,” said Barry Salzberg, CEO, Deloitte LLP. “There is no better opportunity to put the intellectual capital and business knowledge of our people to work than through the delivery of our exceptional professional services capabilities for the strategic, operational, and financial benefit of the USOC and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls.”
“We are proud to welcome Deloitte to our family of sponsors and appreciate the expertise and support they bring in preparing America’s athletes for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Stephanie Streeter, USOC Acting Chief Executive Officer. “This contribution and the breadth of capabilities they bring will be instrumental in our mission to enable America’s athletes to realize their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.”
Deloitte’s core values – integrity, strength from cultural diversity, and commitment to each other – are reflected in the Olympic Movement. In addition to Deloitte, other member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu have committed to the international Olympic Movement. Deloitte Canada is the Official Professional Services Supplier to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Deloitte UK is the Official Professional Services Provider of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Separately, subsidiaries of Deloitte have been engaged to provide pro bono services to Chicago 2016 which is bidding for the right to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
USOC
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.
Source: Deloitte
College Basketball Fever Strikes Guitar Hero Metallica With Bob Knight, Coach K, Rick Pitino and Roy Williams
Activision Pays Tribute to Four of the Most Successful College Basketball Coaches Who Star in New Television Ad Campaign
Activision Publishing, Inc.’s Guitar Hero(R) makes a slam dunk with the latest installment of the “Risky Business”- inspired advertising campaign featuring four of the best-known national collegiate basketball coaches of all time and their surprise encounter with world-famous rock band Metallica. The ad is an extension of the “Risky Business”- inspired Guitar Hero campaign that pays tribute to the famous lip- and guitar-syncing scene that appeared in the popular film “Risky Business.” The ad will highlight the coaches jamming on instruments from Guitar Hero(R) Metallica(R) to the song “Old Time Rock and Roll,” performed by Bob Seger.
The commercial, airing now and throughout the men’s college basketball playoffs and championship game, features the all-time leader in college basketball coaching wins Bob Knight gripping the mic, arch rivals Duke University Coach Mike Krzyzewski (“Coach K”) and University of North Carolina Coach Roy Williams sharing duties on the guitar, and former NBA coach and current University of Louisville Coach Rick Pitino dominating the drums. During their performance, the men are confronted by legendary rock band, Metallica, who are unimpressed by the coaches’ rock and roll fantasy.
The new spot joins the popular “Risky Business” advertising series directed by Brett Ratner. New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and supermodel Heidi Klum are just a few of the celebrities that have starred in “Risky Business” Guitar Hero spots inviting and inspiring others to unleash their inner rock star. The series of ads have been viewed more than 5 million times on You Tube.
The commercials were created and produced by advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky and H.S.I. Productions, through a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
“The last few ‘Risky Business’ ads were such a hit with Guitar Hero fans as it showed that even celebrities have rock and roll fantasies,” said Brett Ratner. “This time around, we thought we’d turn the tables and put the spotlight on some atypical Guitar Hero fans, four of the most well-known collegiate basketball coaches. I think fans will be very surprised by their shredding skills off the court.”
“Guitar Hero is more than just a video game, it is a pop culture phenomenon that has truly taken the entertainment industry by storm,” said Brad Jakeman, Chief Creative Officer of Activision Publishing. “The ‘Risky Business’ ads work so well because they bring together pop icons from different worlds – music, films, professional sports, fashion and – now – college basketball. Metallica is one of the most popular bands in history and are known for the intensity of their playing and the passion of their fans. Matching them with these iconic college basketball coaches is both unexpected and perfectly natural. College basketball fans are among the most passionate fans out there and these four coaches are symbols of this season’s intensity and success.”
Beginning March 29, fans can “Ride the Lightning” with musical icons Metallica and more than 20 other rocking acts in an all new Guitar Hero experience – Guitar Hero Metallica. Players will enter the world of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo and experience the intensity and skill of one of the greatest bands of all time. Shred on guitar, rip on drums and wail on the mic to a set list featuring over 45 explosive hits from Metallica’s illustrious career and a wide variety of other legendary artists personally selected by the band, such as Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters and Queen. Fans will be able to rock as Metallica while performing in venues reminiscent of the band’s epic album covers, themes from their music and real world locales.
Guitar Hero is redefining the way we experience music through innovation and creativity that provides new ways for fans to experience their favorite music and introduces new music to millions of fans. In 2009, Guitar Hero is introducing new music genres and new products that will excite existing fans and invite more people to the Guitar Hero franchise.
Guitar Hero Metallica is developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. The Wii(TM) version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero Metallica, please visit http://metallica.guitarhero.com/.
Source: Activision Publishing, Inc.
European Commission Investigation Finds U.S. Laws on Internet Gambling Violate Trade Agreement
U.S. regulation of Internet gambling would resolve trade dispute
As part of a formal investigation, the European Commission has issued a preliminary report that finds U.S. laws on Internet gambling are legally not justified and discriminatory. The report found that the treatment of foreign Internet gambling operators by the U.S. under existing domestic law constituted a barrier to market access for European companies and is inconsistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Legislation previously introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) would resolve the trade dispute by regulating Internet gambling and creating a level playing field among domestic and foreign Internet gambling operators.
“The European Commission investigation further highlights the need for the Obama Administration and Congress to regulate Internet gambling not only to protect consumers, but in order to restore integrity to the international trade system,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. “The Obama Administration should seek to forge a new direction on Internet gambling, rather than keeping in place a protectionist trade policy that hypocritically discriminates against foreign online gambling operators.”
E.U. Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton released a statement that encourages the U.S. to regulate Internet gambling as a way to address this issue. “It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations. I am hopeful that we can find a swift, negotiated solution to this issue,” said Commissioner Ashton.
Rt Hon. David Blunkett MP, former U.K. Home Secretary and current Member of the U.K. Parliament joined in calling for U.S. regulation, saying, “I fully support the call by the E.U. Trade Commissioner, Cathy Ashton, for urgent U.S. action to regularise the trade relationship, respect WTO rules and to regulate online gambling. This would provide not only fair competition, but protection for individuals and families, and a legal basis on which substantial revenue could be raised at a time of considerable pressure on public finances.”
The investigation by the European Commission is the result of a Trade Barrier Regulation complaint filed by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which represents the largest remote gambling companies in Europe. In its complaint the RGA claims the United States violates international trade law by threatening and pursuing criminal prosecutions, forfeitures and other enforcement actions against foreign Internet gambling operators, while allowing domestic U.S. online gambling operators, primarily horse betting, to flourish.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the European Commission could pursue discussions with the U.S. to find an appropriate solution to end the discrimination. If the parties cannot settle the matter themselves, the Commission could bring a case against the U.S. to the WTO.
A recent analysis found that the U.S. could receive as much as $51.9 billion in federal revenue over the next decade if Internet gambling is regulated as proposed in legislation previously introduced by Representatives Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.).
Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative
The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions. For more information on the Initiative, please visit www.safeandsecureig.org. The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.