Security keeps public away from Olympic sponsors

Organizers promised Tuesday to let more people into the tightly guarded Olympic Green after sponsors complained that security restrictions kept visitors away from their promotional pavilions, a marketing official said.

General Electric Co., Coca Cola Co. and others that spent tens of millions of dollars to link their brands to the Olympics created colorful, costly displays on the plaza beside the Bird's Nest stadium and other key venues. But access was limited to ticket holders for sports events. So at many pavilions, the staff outnumbered the handful of visitors.

Organizers agreed to give out passes to allow thousands more people on the Olympic Green every …