Olympic Flame Travels Global ’’Journey of Harmony’’

ATLANTA - The Olympic Flame will travel around the world next year, in a prelude to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. And Coca-Cola once more will support the event, as a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, for the sixth time in 12 years.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) unveiled the ambitious, global itinerary for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay – a voyage themed “The Journey of Harmony.”

Beginning in late March 2008, the Olympic Flame will be shared with citizens in at least 19 cities across the world -- as well as Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau. Following its round-the-world tour, the Olympic Torch Relay will travel throughout mainland China, prior to arriving in Beijing, host city for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Coca-Cola, which first became a presenting sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay for the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, will co-present the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay with Samsung and Lenovo. All three companies are Worldwide Partners of the International Olympic Committee and sponsors of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

“The Olympic Torch Relay is truly a magnificent event, and Coca-Cola is proud to be involved again for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,” said David G. Brooks, General Manager, 2008 Olympic Project Group, Coca-Cola (China) Beverages Ltd. “The Torch Relay builds awareness and anticipation for the upcoming Olympic Games, and it has become a symbol of optimism that connects people across different cultures.”

Coca-Cola will integrate its global advertising campaign “Coke Side of Life” in all marketing communications for the Olympic Games through the theme of “Live Olympic on the Coke Side of Life.” The message is an invitation to live on the positive side of life and shares the values of inspiration and the belief that an individual can make a difference that are also embodied in the Olympic spirit.

2008 Torch Relay Route

By tradition, the Olympic Flame will be ignited by the sun’s rays in the ancient Greek city of Olympia. The flame will be lighted March 26, 2008, and delivered to Beijing on March 31.

Beginning April 1, the Olympic Torch Relay will travel around the world for 33 days, visiting the following cities (subject to change): Almaty (April 2); Istanbul, (April 3); St. Petersburg (April 5); London (April 6); Paris (April 7); San Francisco (April 9); Buenos Aires (April 11); Dar es Salaam (April 13); Muscat (April 15); Islamabad (April 16); Mumbai (April 17); Bangkok (April 19); Kuala Lumpur (April 21); Jakarta (April 22); Canberra (April 24); Nagano (April 26); Seoul (April 27); Pyongyang (April 28); Ho Chi Minh City (April 30); Taipei (May 1); Hong Kong (May 2); and Macau (May 3).

On May 4, 2008, the Olympic Flame will return to mainland China for a major cross-country portion of the Olympic Torch Relay that will last more than three months. This segment of the event will cover areas with more than 750 million people (nearly two-thirds of China’s population). The Torch Relay will pass through 113 cities in 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

On Aug. 8, 2008 the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Presented by Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo will culminate with the lighting of the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium of Beijing, signaling the start of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

BOCOG officials estimate that approximately 22,000 torchbearers will participate in the Torch Relay, including 2,600 in the countries and territories outside of China. Five thousand escort runners also will be recruited for the Olympic Torch Relay inside mainland China only.

The Coca-Cola Company will again play a role in inviting local communities to nominate inspiring local people to be torchbearers for the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in China and other host cities.