Special Olympics: Courage. Joy. Unity. Dignity. Inclusion. Tolerance. Together with our corporate partners, we are good for business and good for the world.
Partners with Special Olympics. Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, with Andreas Delgado, Special Olympics Venezuela athlete and employee of Coke Venezuela, who competed in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Athens, Greece during the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Corporate Partnerships
Corporations that partner with Special Olympics share our brand values. We are a trusted organization reaching deep into local communities around the globe. Our Programs succeed in changing lives, building advocacy networks and creating a lasting positive impact. Consumers recognize us as a brand deserving respect, loyalty and good will – giving us a 95% positive brand recognition in the U.S. The public trusts Special Olympics, which is why a Special Olympics corporate sponsorship is also valuable for our partners.
The Coca-Cola Company has been a founding partner of Special Olympics since 1968. Through the generosity of cash, in-kind, volunteers and awareness that support Special Olympics Programs and events around the world, Coke has fostered acceptance and inclusion of millions of Special Olympics athletes. Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company, said: “The values of Special Olympics of understanding, acceptance and inclusion are shared by Coca-Cola. Giving our associates the opportunity to connect directly with Special Olympics athletes and their families bring those values to life and supports the mission in a meaningful way.”
2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games-Athens, Greece
As an Official Global Partner of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, Coca-Cola launched a multifaceted engagement strategy for the Games utilizing Coke’s 125th anniversary as its platform. Activation included advertising, commemorative packaging, retail displays, print and radio ads, an online awareness campaign through Facebook and a television commercial airing throughout Greece featuring Coke employees and a Special Olympics athlete sharing the message of Special Olympics.
2010 Special Olympics Unity Cup Presented by Coca-Cola
On July 3, 2010, the first-ever Special Olympics Unity Cup presented by Coca-Cola took place during the FIFA World Cup™ in Cape Town, South Africa. Celebrities, soccer legends and even the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, took to the field alongside 16 Special Olympics athlete teammates who hailed from all over the world. The Special Olympic Unity Cup presented by Coca-Cola represented a compelling vision of dignity, empowerment and inclusion—a vision for the whole world to embrace.
Marketing Support Highlights
During the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Coca-Cola aired a television commercial celebrating the accomplishments of Olympians and Special Olympics athletes alike. The theme of the commercial was “supporting Olympic dreams” and featured several Special Olympics athletes alongside Olympic athletes and Special Olympics supporters such as Michelle Kwan (Special Olympics Board Member), Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci (Special Olympics Board Member). The commercial was the 3rd highest rated Olympic ad in primetime, according to Nielson, and reached almost 260 million households in the United States.
Corporate partnerships with Special Olympics strengthen partners’ brand value, build consumer loyalty and promote business objectives while helping us enable athletes. Through thousands of local Programs in nearly 200 countries, Special Olympics has the reach to provide global visibility and the depth to offer abundant opportunities for involvement at a community level.
Special Olympics sponsorships increase sales and brand awareness, but sponsors often find more profound partnership benefits: increased employee morale and loyalty.
Special Olympics’ corporate partnerships give so much back to your company: stronger community ties, boosted brand equity, increased employee morale and visible results of your contribution to the world. To discuss building a successful sponsorship package for your company, please contact our corporate development department today.