June 26, 2024 – Special Olympics, Inc. and The Coca‑Cola Company today announced an eight-year extension of their longstanding global partnership, rooted in the shared values of championing inclusion.
This is the longest-ever renewal in the partnership’s history. The partnership runs through 2031 and is a testament to the Coca-Cola system’s belief in the mission of Special Olympics to showcase the limitless potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and celebrate the unifying and transformative power of sport. The Coca-Cola Company is a founding partner, dating to the inception of Special Olympics in 1968.
"We are honored and grateful to continue our long-standing partnership with Coca-Cola to create an inclusive world for everyone. As our founding partner and global sponsor for the past 56 years, Coca-Cola has helped us transform the lives of one of the most marginalized populations of people across the globe—those with intellectual disabilities. Coca-Cola has been an agent of change for inclusion in creating experiences and opportunities for our millions of athletes, coaches and volunteers, forever changing the way the world views inclusion.”
Coca‑Cola supports Special Olympics programs, athletes and events around the world through monetary and in-kind donations, volunteer support and awareness-driving marketing initiatives.
"Special Olympics, much like Coca-Cola, helps bring people together through sports, inclusivity and celebration. We’re proud to continue supporting this important organization, while cheering on every athlete courageously pursuing their dreams.”
Last summer, the partnership leveraged the reach of the global Coca-Cola brand to promote the largest humanitarian event in 2023—the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin. More than 6,500 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners representing 170-plus countries and territories competed before more than 300,000 spectators. The Coca-Cola Company served as the Official Beverage Partner and Premium Sponsor, and refreshed athletes and fans with beverages throughout the Games while mobilizing an employee volunteer network to support the athletes and Unified partners.
In support of the Games and throughout the summer of 2023, Coca-Cola's “Your Support is Real Magic” campaign showcased the limitless potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and the power of sport to break down barriers and transform lives. These videos underline Coca-Cola’s belief in Special Olympics’ mission of creating a better world by fostering acceptance and inclusion.
The Special Olympics World Games is the largest inclusive global sporting event, held every two years, alternating between summer and winter editions. The 2025 Winter Games will be held in Turin, Italy, and the 2027 Summer Games will take place in Santiago, Chile. In addition to these tentpole events, Coca-Cola supports local Special Olympics competitions and programs throughout the year.
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