As I was thinking if it made sense for Know More Media to participate in b5media's Olympic coverage, I thought about the contribution of businesses to the Olympics, and since Know More Media covers business information and news, I thought it was a good match (was that a good plug or what?). Besides, it gives me an excuse to spend more time watching the great NBC coverage.

I am sick and tired of hearing the whining about the "commercialism" of the Olympics.  The modern day Olympics stand on the two pillars of Government Funding and Corporate Sponsorship.  Take out either pillar and the Olympics will cease to exist (in the size and scope that we know it today).

A total of 40% of Olympic revenues come from Corporate sponsors.  Another 50% of Olympic revenues comes from TV rights.  The TV has fueled the growth of the modern Olympics.  During the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, an estimated 3.7 billion people watched in 220 countries and territories, making it the most televised Olympic Games in history, and the most watched sporting event in the world.

If there were not corporate sponsorship of Coca Cola and Samsung, there would not be the Olympic Torch Run of any significance.

Corporate advertising and corporate sponsorship make one of the most unifying events in the world possible.  And in recent years, such corporate sponsorship of individual athletes, like HomeDepot (who help over 200 world class athletes), allow the athletes to earn an income and have the flexibility to work around their training regime with an understanding employer.

So next time someone is whining about the crass commercialism of the Olympics, I am going to invite them to sit down with me in front of my cool new Panasonic Big Screen HDTV, with a Big Mac and a Coke in my hand, with a Samsung phone in my pocket, and an Omega watch on my wrist, under the GE lights I bought at HomeDepot, have our picture taken together with a Kodak disposible camera, and spend the evening watching NBC, and enjoying the greatest sporting event in the world - all for free.

Maybe it is time we give a little gratitude to these "Big Evil (not!) Multi-National Corporations". I know I will.

Thanks for helping provide a magnificent event! Grazie!