Coca-Cola Supports Unique Tribute to Special Olympic Athletes and Their Dads

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sports, encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide.

In continuing with the Special Olympics tradition, the thrill of victory, joy and fatherhood will be celebrated in Boston this weekend as the city welcomes the 2012 Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games.  The games will run from June 15–17, these special athletes supported by their coaches, families and dedicated volunteers - will challenge each other and themselves as they compete in aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, power lifting, tennis and volleyball. 

The opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Games will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 15 at the Boston University Indoor Track and Tennis Center, 100 Ashford Street. The three-day event will take place within Harvard and Boston Universities.

In a very special tribute to dads at the ceremony, Coca-Cola will donate copies of Mark Shriver's new biography, A Good Man, in which Shriver details his personal journey to understanding and accepting his father's legacy. The biography pays tribute Mark's dad, Sargent Shriver and his wife Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who instilled within their five children the calling to serve the community.

Coca-Cola has supported the Special Olympics since 1968 and is its sole Founding Partner.  In addition to providing financial support, Coca-Cola employees across the nation have embraced the spirit of the Special Olympics by volunteering and coaching. "Coca-Cola is proud and privileged to have such an amazing history with the Special Olympics," said Harriet Tolve, Public Affairs & Communications, Coca-Cola Refreshments. "All of our country's Special Olympic Athletes offer true inspiration.  We are awed by their courage, warmed by their smiles and motivated by their determination as they push themselves to the very best of their abilities."

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in over 170 countries from all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now take place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities all over the world, from community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood's backyard to World Games. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgiaand Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate.