(ATR) Around the Rings has learned that Coca-Cola will play a major role in sponsoring the 2016 Olympic Torch Relay.
A source within the company told ATR about the TOP Sponsor’s participation, and it is unclear if Coke will be the only sponsor for the event.
A spokesperson from the Rio 2016 organizing committee would not comment on Coca-Cola’s possible inclusion, citing that preliminary plans for the 2016 Torch Relay would be announced soon.
Coca-Cola was heavily involved with the 2012 and 2014 torch relays and has been a sponsor of the event since 1992 in Barcelona.
For the London relay, Coca-Cola provided sustainable vehicles to follow the event, while organizing fan events for the Sochi relay.
It is expected that a domestic sponsor will be involved in relay preparations, as was the case with British company Lloyd’s in 2012 and Russian insurance company Ingosstrakh in 2014.
Details about the relay are sparse, but it is expected to last for 100 days, putting its start in late April 2016. The Sochi 2014 Torch Relay ran for 123 days, the longest in history.
Coca-Cola Signs with Baku
Baku has added its seventh partner for the 2015 European Games.
Coca-Cola products in Azerbaijan will now display the official Baku 2015 logo on special edition products produced for the Games.
The soft drink company joins Azerbaijan Airlines, BP, Nar Mobile, P&G, SOCAR and Tissot as partners for the inaugural European Games.
In addition to branded materials, Coca-Cola will launch a marketing program in Azerbaijan to promote the games.
"CocaCola’s association with major sporting events makes this agreement an excellent opportunity to spread the word about Baku 2015," Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 CEO, said in a statement.
"With the help of all our official partners and supporters, we will deliver an exceptional event that will engage and excite the entire continent in an historic celebration of sport this summer."
Olympian Tops Marketable Female Athlete List
Maria Sharapova is the most marketable female athlete, according to Repucom.
According to Repucom’s latest findings, Sharapova is the most popular female athlete in the world in terms of perception and visibility.
Sharapova topped Repucom’s "Celebrity DBI" ranking for athletes, and was ranked 25 for female world-wide celebrities.
Currently, Nike, Evian, Tag-Heuer, and Porsche sponsor Sharapova, the number two ranked tennis player in the world.
She participated in the 2012 London Olympics, winning a silver medal.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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