Minister fails to sign Games sponsorship<\/p>\n
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP): Thailand's education minister failed
\nto show up to sign a major sponsorship contract for the 1998
\nAsian Games, but the company on Friday said it hoped to wrap up
\nthe deal next week.<\/p>\n
Sukhavich Rangsitpol's no-show for the meeting with Acer Group
\nof Taiwan angered Santiparb Tejavanija, the games marketing
\ndirector, so much that he resigned.<\/p>\n
But Santiparb decided to stay on in his post after president
\nof the Olympic Council of Asia, Shiek Ahmad al-Sahah al-Fahd of
\nKuwait, appealed to Santiparb to reconsider, saying his efforts
\nwere crucial to the success of the Games.<\/p>\n
Acer Chairman Stan Shih and other dignitaries were left
\nwaiting and perplexed at a Bangkok convention hall when Sukhavich
\ndidn't show up at the meeting Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
An aide to Sukhavich said the minister did not attend the
\nmeeting because a clause detailing what type of software would be
\nsupplied by the company was missing from the contract. He offered
\nno other explanation for the minister's behavior.<\/p>\n
Acer will provide the computer systems and software necessary
\nfor official scoring and medal tallies at the Olympic-style
\ngames.<\/p>\n
The incident was the latest in Bangkok's bumbling attempts to
\nstage the Games, scheduled for next December.<\/p>\n
The Olympic Council of Asia has threatened on several
\noccasions to shift the games to another country because of poor
\npreparations and a lackadaisical attitude from Thai government
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
The Thai government hopes the event will showcase Bangkok as a
\nmodern, developed city, but critics have said it is more likely
\nto spotlight the capital's many problems, including massive
\ntraffic jams and pollution.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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