Turin to boycott Coca-Cola

The Turin city council has voted to ban Coca-Cola products from its offices in what is being seen as an affront to one of the top sponsors for the Olympics.Turin is due to host the Winter Games from Feb. 10-26. Turin officials said Wednesday that alleged abuse of workers by Coca-Cola in Latin America was behind the vote, which was taken two days ago.

A small neighborhood association in Rome said last week it would block passage of the Olympic torch through its streets because the relay is sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni met with an Italy-based representative of Coca-Cola, Nicola Raffa, to smooth out the issue. The torch route will not change.

"We don't have anything to hide, we operate with the utmost transparency," Raffa said last week. He arranged for the leader of the neighborhood association to visit Coca-Cola's facilities in Colombia in March.

Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino has arranged for a similar meeting with Raffa for Monday where he plans to "reiterate Turin's faith in Coca-Cola as a top Olympics sponsor," his office said Wednesday. A.M.