Michelob Ultra Named Exclusive Beer Sponsor of Team USA for LA28 Games
Sponsorship starts this summer in Paris and carries through four-year cycle
Posted On: January 12, 2024 By :Anheuser-Busch has announced that Michelob Ultra has become the exclusive beer sponsor of Team USA for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Paris, 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina and will be the Official Beer Sponsor of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.
“We are thrilled to announce Team USA’s partnership with Anheuser-Busch,” said Sarah Hirshland, chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “Our organizations share a long history of championing athletes and celebrating Team USA everywhere they compete. The addition of Michelob Ultra to our team signifies more than a partnership; it’s an alliance supporting our athletes as they push beyond boundaries in the competitive world of sports. Together, we aim to shape a vibrant future for the global sports landscape, fueled by our shared dedication and passion.”
LA28’s first sponsorship announcement was in March 2020 when Delta came on board. Other founder partners named so far are Comcast, Salesforce, Hershey, Fanatics, Oakley and Deloitte. The sponsorship announcement comes less than a month after the organization’s chief executive officer, Kathy Carter, left LA28.
“The Olympic Games bring together sports and national pride in a unique blend of competitive spirit that unites the world,” said Brendan Whitworth, chief executive officer of Anheuser-Busch. “As one of the longest standing sports sponsors, Anheuser-Busch is committed to delivering on our promise to be there for the moments that matter to beer drinkers and sports fans across the country.”
The news follows an earlier announcement by the International Olympic Committee which named AB InBev, the Belgium-based brewing giant whose brands include Budweiser, Corona, Michelob and Modelo, a Worldwide Olympic Partner through 2028, the first beer brand in the 40-year history of its sponsorship program.
The IOC launched the TOP program in 1985 and has typically aligned with technology and logistics companies that can help Games organizers in host cities. Deloitte, Intel and Toyota are on the current slate. The Olympic body has never signed a beer or alcohol brand for its global event. IOC sponsors do not get to display their names or slogans at Olympics stadiums and venues. Sponsors do get exclusive worldwide rights to use Olympic branding like the iconic five rings symbol in its own advertising and campaign activations, such as running competitions on drinks cans and packaging.
Beer deals, however, are routine for local organizers; Budweiser was the international beer of the 2008 Games in Beijing.
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