Bong Chun Kwon, One Of 16 Special Olympics Athletes Selected To Participate In Football Match To Be Played During 2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa
Beijing, China – 30 April 2010 – Special Olympics East Asia, together with Coca-Cola, is proud to announce that Bong Chun Kwon has been selected to participate alongside football legends and other celebrities in the inaugural match of the “Special Olympics Unity Cup” presented by Coca-Cola, at the same stadium that just hours later will host a FIFA World Cup™ match. Bong Chun Kwon is one of just 16 Special Olympics athletes that will represent all 3.3 million Special Olympics athletes worldwide during the Unity Cup at Cape Town Stadium in South Africa, on 3 July, prior to a quarterfinal match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Bong Chun Kwon will take his global football skills to the Unity Cup as a leading example of the power of Special Olympics Unified Sports®, with the goal of the Unity Cup to support the mission of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Bong Chun Kwon will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the same playing field as not only other Special Olympics athletes from around the world, but also an incredible roster of football legends and celebrities including: South African President Jacob Zuma, former South African National Football Team captain Lucas Radebe, former captain of South Africa’s National Women’s Football Team Desiree Ellis, and Clarence Seedorf of A.C. Milan, among others.
Bong Chun Kwon said, “I am so excited to have this opportunity, proud to represent SO Unity Cup to be held in South Africa; I’ll do my best in this attempt.” He also expressed that he could not have achieved any of these goals off the field without the confidence he gained on the field through the support of Special Olympics.
Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, The Coca-Cola Company has been an Official Global Partner. Coca-Cola supports the movement through financial and in-kind support, marketing expertise and hands-on volunteer work in an effort to showcase the dignity and capacity of people with intellectual disabilities on a global stage.
“We have a long and unique association with sport, especially football, and have witnessed over the decades how it can unite people,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief
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Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company and a member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. “The Unity Cup is a testament to that power as we have brought together our partners at Special Olympics and FIFA to shine a spotlight on the important values of understanding, acceptance and inclusion that we all share.”
The Special Olympics Unity Cup will be a 20-minute match held on the afternoon of 3 July, showcasing the skills of Bong Chun Kwon and his fellow Special Olympic athletes in an extension of the Unified Sports® program, which brings Special Olympics athletes together with partners without intellectual disabilities on teams for friendly athletic competition.
“We could not be more proud of Bong Chun Kwon as he will be able to take this opportunity playing in the Unity Cup to showcase the ability of Special Olympics athletes on a world stage,” said Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver. “Thanks to our global partner, Coca-Cola, we can turn the world’s attention to football not only as a sport, but as a powerful agent of change that can unite people with and without intellectual disabilities.”
With over thirty years of development, Special Olympics East Asia currently offers all the summer and winter sports in the Region. The total number of SO athletes in the region reached 953,863 at the end of 2009 according to the official census.
Bong Chun Kwon has been playing football for 15 years and plays mid-field with his local team. Special Olympics has not only helped him to develop his football skills but also has provided him with tremendous self-confidence.
The Coca-Cola Company is a FIFA Partner and has had a formal association with the governing body for world football since 1974 and has been an official sponsor of every FIFA World Cup since 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup since 1950 and is a long-time supporter of football at all levels, from grassroots to the FIFA World Cup™.
For more information about the Unity Cup, please visit: www.specialolympics.org/unitycup.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.3 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s backyard. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
