Bids for the 1996 Summer Olympics "political instability, potential security problems, air pollution, traffic congestion and the fact that it would have to spend about $3 billion to improve its infrastructure of airports, roads, rail lines and other amenities". Allegations were quick to emerge in the Greek and Australian media that Atlanta had won the Games due to a conspiracy organized by global beverage company Coca-Cola, a longtime sponsor of the Olympic Games headquartered in Atlanta. An Athenian daily newspaper declared the "Olympic flame will not be lit with oil, but with Coca-Cola", while the Athens bid chair said that the city would never again bid
Coca-Cola Enterprises paid over $15 billion, including a redemption of Coca-Cola's 33% shareholding in CCE. Coca-Cola wanted the business in their asset list because they felt it would save both consumers and Coca-Cola money. Coca-Cola also spun off its small European bottling division to "New CCE". The acquisition closed on October 3, 2010. On August 6, 2015, Coca-Cola Enterprises announced that it would merge with Coca-Cola Iberian Partners and Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke AG, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, into a new company to be called Coca-Cola European Partners PLC. Coca-Cola Enterprises Coca-Cola Enterprises was a marketer, producer, and distributor of Coca-Cola products.