MINNEAPOLIS -- Herschel Walker of the Minnesota Vikings announced Friday International Business Machines has donated the use of nearly $7 million worth of IBM computers and related products and services to the 1991 International Special Olympic Games.
Walker, an official 'athlete partner' for the 1991 games, praised IBM's sponsorship as a 'model of corporate citizenship.'
IBM's sponsorship is the corporation's largest contribution to the Special Olympics and is the largest in-kind contribution made to the 1991 games to date.
'IBM's equipment contribution is invaluable to the success of the 1991 games,' said Roy Smalley, executive director of the games. 'We're excited to have a corporation with IBM's reputation for excellence on board with us as a premier sponsor.'
Some of the IBM equipment already is in place in the games' Minneapolis offices.
In addition to IBM, other premier sponsors slated to contribute $1 million or more to the games include Civitan International, Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., Irwin Jacobs and Associated Companies, Northwest Airlines, and Volvo North American Corp.
The 1991 games, which will run from July 19 through July 27, will be the largest international, multi-sport athletic event in the world next year and the largest such event ever held in Minnesota. More than 6,000 athletes from nearly 90 countries are expected to participate in the games.
