Home Depot Ends Olympic Sponsorship

The world’s largest home improvement retailer is ending its Olympic sponsorship. The move by Home Depot also brings to a close a popular Olympic athlete jobs program.

The program allowed aspiring Olympic athletes time to train by working part-time at Home Depot stores, but getting full-time pay and benefits. The move affects nearly 100 employees in the company’s Olympic jobs program.

Atlanta-based Home Depot says during the 16-year Olympic sponsorship, 600 athletes took advantage of the program. Half of that number made Olympic and Paralympic teams, and almost 150 won medals.

The company says ending its Olympic relationship was not due to the downturn in the economy. A Home Depot spokesperson says it was simply the right time to move on to other opportunities. The sponsorship deal was worth between 15-20 million dollars over the past four years.

UGA honors former governor

At the University of Georgia campus in Athens, a student activities center is set to be named after former Gov. Joe Frank Harris. Harris led the state from 1983 to 1991. During his two terms as governor, Harris secured funding for the Georgia Dome and helped lead Atlanta to win the bid to host the 1996 Olympics. Harris, who graduated from the university in 1958, will speak at the naming ceremony October 10th. UGA also has plans to name another building for former Gov. Zell Miller later this month.

Governor Perdue in China for Business not Olympics

China’s business is important to Georgia. That’s why Governor Perdue has joined regional leaders from Brazil, South Africa, Germany and Canada for a conference with officials in Shangdong province this week.

Perdue says energy conservation and healthcare policy were major topics. A day after President Bush critizied China’s Human Rights record, Perdue says the officials he met are aware of their governments reputation. He says he doesn’t want to lecture, but work from within.

"I think that's how we cPublish Postan influence them," he told reporters during a conference call.

"They know that in regards to human rights, they're not where they want to be."

Perdue in not staying around for any Olympic events. This was the govenor’s 15^th international trip and his second visit to China.

Lewis calls for Olympics boycott

A Georgia Congressman says he will boycott part of the Beijing Olympics. U.S Representative John Lewis tells the Atlanta Journal Constitution the U.S. should not attend the opening ceremonies. Thousands of protestors have disrupted the world tour of the Olympic Torch in Paris, London and San Francisco. They accuse China of human rights abuses and of oppressing the country, culture and religion of Tibet.

Georgia Games could go under

Georgia’s version of the Olympics is nearly out of money. Organizers of the Georgia Games are trying to raise $100,000 by mid-August, or say they’ll have to stop running competitions. The group says funding wasn’t included in the state budget, so the Georgia Games must keep going on private donations. The Georgia Games started in 1990 to demonstrate the state’s commitment to amateur athletes. Participants have come from nearly every Georgia county.