Saturday, May 10, 2008

Coca-Cola Invites People to ‘Connect with the World over a Coke’ in Celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games

BUSINESS WIRE--With three months to go until the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Coca-Cola is inviting people in the U.S. to celebrate the Olympic ideals of unity, optimism and inspiration. Long before the first medals are awarded in August, Coca-Cola will build excitement for the Olympic Games with the launch of a multi-faceted Olympic-themed program in the U.S. Anchored by a group of high-profile U.S. Olympians and Olympic hopefuls, limited edition Olympic-themed packaging and online experiences, the program is designed to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit and camaraderie associated with the worlds biggest sporting event.

Together, Coca-Cola and the Olympic Games have shared and promoted the values of unity, optimism and inspiration for 80 years, said Hendrik Steckhan, president and general manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola North America. For the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, were continuing that legacy of engaging the world. By combining Coca-Cola cans in different languages with six amazing athletes, weve created a program that celebrates global communities coming together and the unifying spirit of the Olympic Games and Coca-Cola.

Connect With The World

Beginning May 19, Coca-Cola will give Americans a taste of how Coke is enjoyed around the world with the release of limited edition, Olympic-themed collectible cans and FridgePacks bearing the iconic Coca-Cola logo in different languages, including Ethiopian, Russian, Thai, Mandarin, and of course, English. This new packaging marks the first appearance of the Coca-Cola script in different languages in the United States, with new designs appearing every two to three weeks.

Hitting stores simultaneously, 20-ounce Coca-Cola bottles will feature labels with multiple languages including those of the U.S., Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Korea, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Six-Pack of Athletes

To connect U.S. consumers with the spirit and excitement of the upcoming Games, a special Coca-Cola Six Pack of athletes will be featured on collectible packaging and in-store materials. The Six Pack includes gold medalists Natalie Coughlin (swimming), Steven Lopez (taekwondo) and Sanya Richards (track & field); Olympians LeBron James (USA basketball) and Andy Potts (triathlon); and Olympic hopeful Shawn Johnson (gymnastics). Leading by example, the athletes also are serving as Coca-Cola Ambassadors of Active Living to help encourage and inspire people to lead active, balanced lives.

Advertising

Today in New York, five of the Coca-Cola Six Pack of athletes are filming special NBC vignettes that will air during the summer to raise awareness of the collectible Coca-Cola packaging. These vignettes will join other Olympic-themed ads from Coca-Cola this summer, including a commercial that celebrates the 80-year relationship between Coca-Cola and the Olympic Games.

Online Olympic Experience

MyCoke.com will be the destination for teens looking to interact with Coca-Cola and the Olympic Games in a fun, global way. Visitors can design their own digital Coke bottle to share with others around the world; learn about the Coca-Cola Six Pack of athletes; download wallpaper and screen savers; and enter a sweepstakes for a snowboarding trip with Olympic medalist Gretchen Bleiler to Vancouver, the site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The site also will feature WE8, a global collaboration between eight exciting visual artists and eight progressive musicians to create eight limited-edition aluminum bottle designs and free, downloadable companion songs. Over the summer, thousands of samples of the special aluminum bottles will be shared with visitors at Simon Malls across the country.

Also, loyal Mycokerewards.com members can redeem their points for Olympic gear; learn about the collectible cans and bottles, download Olympic packaging collectors sheets; watch video interviews with the Coca-Cola Six Pack of athletes; and enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a U.S. Olympic Training Center tour with an Olympic athlete.

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