Health Experts Want The Olympics To Drop Its Oldest Sponsor

Olympic Sponsorship Deal Under Fire

Health Experts Want the Olympics to Drop Its Oldest Sponsor

Scientists, activists and ordinary petitioners want the Olympics to break ties with Coca-Cola

Two health experts on Wednesday urged Olympic organizers to cut ties with Coca-Cola, saying the current big money sponsorship deal sends the wrong message about health and nutrition.

In a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the experts said the deal with Coca-Cola, which has been a sponsor of the Olympics since 1928, is "incompatible with the values of the Olympic Games." The experts noted that Coca-Cola is one of the world's largest producers of sugary drinks, which have been linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

"The IOC has a responsibility to promote health and well-being," the experts wrote. "Sponsoring a company that produces sugary drinks is not in line with that responsibility."

The IOC has not yet responded to the letter, but it is likely to face increasing pressure to drop its sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, and the IOC may be forced to reconsider its relationship with Coca-Cola if it wants to stay in line with public opinion.