Spielberg pull-out increases Olympics pressure

Media Asia 13-Feb-08, 09:07

BEIJING - Stephen Spielberg has withdrawn from his role as artistic adviser to the Beijing Olympics, explaining that his conscience prevented him from further participation due to the Chinese Government’s indirect involvement in the Darfur crisis.

The announcement follows concerns among Olympics sponsors last year that Spielberg would reconsider his role due to criticism from human rights groups that link the event with China’s poor human rights record (Media, 29 August 2007).

It is unclear how Spielberg’s will affect the games’ corporate top-tier of sponsors, which include Johnson & Johnson, Coca Cola, Adidas, and McDonald’s.

But an industry observer commented that it was unlikely that sponsors would be concerned by the move, despite reported agitation last year. “There is a pretty significant difference between an individual and a business brand,” the source said.