History of Support
As a founding partner and global sponsor of Special Olympics, Coca-Cola has been at the forefront of the movement to celebrate the limitless potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and the power of sport to bring people together and, ultimately, transform lives. This longstanding partnership is grounded in the shared values of optimism, acceptance and inclusion, which Special Olympics and Coca-Cola have brought to communities across the globe over the last five decades.
Partnership Support Highlights
In 2019, our 51st year of partnership, The Coca-Cola Company leveraged the reach and relevancy of the Coca-Cola brand to activate the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. The global and local teams helped build awareness through marketing assets; refreshed athletes and fans on site through their portfolio of beverages; and mobilized a volunteer network of passionate employees.
Coca-Cola’s partnership with Special Olympics has progressed over the years, built on a foundational belief in social inclusion and acceptance. Recently, they have accelerated efforts to break down barriers in support of Special Olympics strategic goals to create employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities by hiring Special Olympics athletes to join their project teams leading up to and during the last several World Games.
![Coca Cola representatives standing at the Coca Cola booth in Abu Dhabi at the summer games.](https://dotorg.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/03aa4cd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x600+0+0/resize/800x600!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoi-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdotorg%2F48%2Fc3%2F91e7da5e464883f6efabc13befaf%2Fcoca-cola-in-abu-dhabi.jpg)
“We are proud to help promote the incredibly valuable contributions Special Olympics athletes bring to organizations like Coca-Cola. They are a true asset to any business and inclusive workplace culture. These efforts are a natural extension of our longstanding collaboration with Special Olympics.”