The tariff classification of shipments destined for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games from multiple countries.

NY H82925 July 3, 2001 CLA-2-98:RR:NC:SP:233 H82925 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 9817.60.0000 Ms. Elaine Stevens Schenker, Inc. 15800 International Plaza Drive Suite 100 Houston, TX 77032 RE: The tariff classification of shipments destined for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games from multiple countries. Dear Ms. Stevens: In your letter dated June 22,2001, you requested a ruling on tariff classification. You have two questions concerning imports for these games: Bags imported solely for use by Olympic participants. The bags would be used to carry the participants’ equipment at the events. Give-away items for a specified list of people. The items will be taken home by the recipients after the Olympics. Subheading 9817.60.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), covers: “Any of the following articles not intended for sale or distribution to the public: personal effects of aliens who are participants in, officials of, or accredited members or delegations to, an international athletic event held in the United States, such as the Olympics and Paralympics, the Goodwill Games, the Special Olympics World Games, the World Cup Soccer Games, or any similar international athletic event as the Secretary of the Treasury may determine, and of persons who are immediate family members of or servants to any of the foregoing persons; equipment and materials imported in connection with any such foregoing event by or on behalf of the foregoing persons or the organizing committee of such an event, articles to be used in exhibitions depicting the culture of a country participating in such an event; and, if consistent with the foregoing, such other articles as the Secretary of the Treasury may allow.” In your first scenario, the bags are considered equipment and materials imported for the use of the participants at the Olympics. The applicable subheading will be 9817.60.0000, HTS, which provides for articles for the Olympics. The rate of duty will be free. Your second scenario does not appear to be within the purview of the above-cited HTS provision. However, we would need to know what the give-away items are and to whom they are going. When this information is available you may wish to resubmit your request. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Lawrence Mushinske at 212-637-7061. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director, National Commodity Specialist Division