ExxonMobil becomes latest sponsor to sever Iditarod ties

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA >> The Iditarod, the world’s most famous sled dog race, has lost another major sponsor as it prepares for a scaled back version of this year’s race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday.

ExxonMobil confirmed to The Associated Press that the oil giant will drop its sponsorship of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The move came after ExxonMobil, which has been a race sponsor since 1978, received pressure from one of its shareholders and the race’s biggest critic, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“After careful review of sponsorships in light of current economic conditions, we’ve decided to conclude our sponsorship of the Iditarod following the 2021 race,” ExxonMobil spokesperson Ashley Alemayehu said in an email to the AP.

“The health and safety of the dogs, and everyone involved in the event, has always been an important consideration for us,” Alemayehu said.

The Iditarod called ExxonMobil a “great partner” in the race as well as the Iditarod Education program, saying in a statement that, “After careful review of sponsorships in light of current economic conditions, they have decided to conclude their sponsorship of the Iditarod following the 2021 race.”

Messages seeking comment from Iditarod officials were not immediately returned.

The loss amounts to $250,000, PETA said, but ExxonMobil could not immediately confirm the sponsorship amount. In 2009, ExxonMobil committed to giving the Iditarod $1.25 million over the ensuing five years.

“We’re glad that they have recognized that it’s absolutely bad for business when corporations support abusive industries and events like the Iditarod,” said Colleen O’Brien, a vice president for the animal rights group.

PETA has lobbied ExxonMobil to drop its sponsorship of the race since 2007.

In December, the organization submitted a shareholders resolution to “end all sponsorship of activities in which animals are used and abused and killed,” O’Brien said. PETA owns 102 shares of the company’s stock.

ExxonMobil executives met with PETA on a teleconference on Tuesday, in which they confirmed they would end sponsorship. O’Brien said PETA then withdrew the resolution and canceled ExxonMobil-targeted ads.

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