Coca-Cola Extends Sponsorship Of Olympic Games Through 2020.

In a ceremony with the Olympic Family at the Great Wall of China, The Coca-Cola Company and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the renewal of their historic partnership for an unprecedented 12 years.

This latest renewal of the most-enduring partnership in the history of the Olympic Games begins in 2009 and lengthens the role of Coca-Cola as Official Soft Drink of the Olympic Games through 2020.

The deal also effectively extends the partnership of Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement – a relationship that began in 1928 – to 92 years without interruption.

Making the announcement Monday evening at the Great Wall were Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, and E. Neville Isdell, chairman and chief executive officer, The Coca-Cola Company.

Also on hand, as representatives of Olympic champions and Olympic Games hopefuls around the world, were Jean-Claude Killy, three-time Olympic Games gold medalist from France and member of the IOC; and young Chinese diver Wu Min Xia, who captured a gold medal and a silver medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The announcement ceremony and subsequent dinner at the Great Wall also capped a special congress of Coca-Cola bottling partners from around the world. All attendees were invited to sign their names, as witnesses, to a ceremonial document signifying the renewed partnership of Coca-Cola and the IOC.

The agreement was celebrated as China marks three years to go until the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In addition to Jacques Rogge and other high- ranking officials of the IOC, ceremony guests included leadership from both the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and the upcoming Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games, which take place February 10-26 in Italy.

“The contribution of Coca-Cola to the Olympic Movement has always been the model of a true partnership,” said Rogge. “The Olympic Games would not be where they are today, and so many athletes over the years could not have competed in the Games, without the extensive corporate support pioneered by Coca-Cola as our longest continuous sponsor.

“Because the Olympic Family and Coca-Cola share the values of Olympism at their deepest level, this is a natural partnership that we hold most dearly,” Rogge said.