Coca-Cola Gives Outstanding Young Athletes In Wales The Chance To Carry Olympic Flame
Friday, July 08, 2011
Coca-Cola's London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay nomination campaign made a stop at the Gemau Cymru to find Wales' 'Future Flames' and celebrate them with the chance to carry the Olympic Flame
Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour visited the Opening Ceremony of Gemau Cymru at Cardiff Leckwith Stadium as part of a nationwide search for the UK's Future Flames to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Coca-Cola is supporting Gemau Cyrmu, organised by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru in partnership with the Welsh Government and other private sector partners, in the hope to create a legacy for Wales from the London 2012 Olympic games. The three day athletic event, to be hosted in Wales in 2011, 2012 and 2013, encourages participation in nine different sports and creates an aspiration event that will give competing athletes a taste of what it would be like to take part in an Olympic Games.
To recognise and reward the positive contributions made by the athletes of Gemau Cymru, Coca-Cola, a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, and David Davies, Olympic swimmer and Coca-Cola's campaign ambassador, this year called on team mates, families and coaches at the event to nominate one of the participating young sports people for the chance to become Wales' Future Flame.
The Future Flames competition ran on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July and proved extremely popular. The nominees, from across Wales, will now be judged by Olympic Swimmer David Davies, Coca-Cola Enterprises Regional Director for Wales Mark Dewhurst, Chief Executive of the Urdd Efa Gruffudd Jones & BBC Wales Sports Presenter Jason Mohammed (TBC), The Judging Panel will be looking for one Athlete, who demonstrates an exceptional passion for their sport and community, and will be given this ones in a life time opportunity to carry the Torch during next years London 2012 Torch Relay.
As part of Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour, competitors and spectators at the Gemau Cymru also had the chance to hold the recently unveiled London 2012 Olympic Torch.
David Davies, an Olympic swimmer, endorsed the campaign: 'This is a very exciting programme to be involved in. I have been working with Coca-Cola for the last three months on their activation of Gemau Cymru."
"It's fantastic to think that one of the competing athletes from this year's Gemau Cymru will get to represent Wales next year by carrying the Olympic Flame. I am delighted to be working with Coca-Cola on such a positive project that will hopefully not just raise the profile of our young athletes and their sports, but also showcases the positive things that young people are doing in their communities through sport. I'm looking forward to reading the nominations and help with the judging process.''
Mark Dewhurst, Regional Director for Coca-Cola Enterprises Wales said: "We are delighted to welcome the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour to Gemau Cymru, to celebrate all the amazing things our local young athletes are doing to contribute to their sports and local communities. We hope everyone in Gemau Cymru put in their nominations and good luck to the athletes as they prepare to find out if they have been successful and will carry the Olympic Flame next summer."
"It is very exciting that David is so actively involved with the Future Flames nomination programme for Gemau Cymru. David is passionate about this programme and has a shared objective with Coca-Cola Enterprises in that we want to play our role trying to raise the profile of grassroots programmes and increasing participation of active life styles in Wales"
Throughout the summer, the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour will also be heading to some of the UK's hottest festivals and venues, as well as visiting city centres and summer hot spots to call on everyone to nominate the best of British youth for more opportunities to win a place in the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
ENDS For more information, please contact Victoria Ward on victoria@fusionuk.org.uk
Notes to editors
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion-dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, Glaceau vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement
The Coca-Cola Company has been continuously associated with the Olympic Games since 1928 - longer than any other corporate sponsor of the Olympic Movement. The Company works with National Olympic Committees in more than 200 countries to help athletes train and compete. More than 90 percent of Coca-Cola's investment in the Olympic Games is directed to athlete development and to assist in staging the Games. Products of The Coca-Cola Company refresh athletes, volunteers, officials and spectators during the Olympic Games. The Coca-Cola Company is the exclusive nonalcoholic beverage provider to the Olympic Games through 2020.
About Coca-Cola and the Olympic Torch Relay
The Coca-Cola Company's first official involvement with the Olympic Torch Relay occurred with the introduction of the International Olympic Torchbearers Program, sponsored by Coca-Cola, for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, a program that was reprised in Lillehammer in 1994. London 2012 marks the eighth time that Coca-Cola has served as a Presenting Sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay including Atlanta ('96), Nagano ('98), Salt Lake City ('02), Athens ('04), Torino ('06), Beijing ('08) and Vancouver ('10).
What is the Olympic Torch Relay?
The Olympic Flame is one of the enduring symbols of the Olympic Games, representing peace, unity and friendship. As it is carried around the UK for the Olympic Torch Relay it will bring the spirit of the Games to everyone.
Lit in Olympia, Greece, in a traditional ceremony, the Olympic Flame will be taken on a short relay in Greece before arriving in the UK on 18 May 2012.
On a 70-day journey across the UK, the Flame will be carried by 8,000 Torchbearers, generating excitement as it makes its way to London and the Opening Ceremony of the Games. The Flame will come within a one-hour journey for 95 per cent of the population of the UK - with entertainment, shows and concerts marking its arrival at each stop.
What is an Olympic Torchbearer?
Olympic Torchbearers will run one leg (approximately 300 metres) of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Coca-Cola will award Torchbearer places to nominees who, in the opinion of the judges, most deserve to carry the Olympic Flame.
Succesful nominees will run one leg of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which takes place between 19th May and 27th July 2012.
