Coca-Cola Canada hits the ice in support of three Canadian Olympic hopefuls

2014 Coca-Cola Canada Athletes Patrick Chan, Steven Stamkos and Marianne St-Gelais to help inspire Canadians to get active

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2013 /CNW/ - The spirit of the Olympic Games brings Canadians from coast to coast to coast together to celebrate the determination and achievements of hard-working athletes. Today, Coca-Cola Canada proudly announces its sponsorship of a talented trio of homegrown Olympic hopefuls. Figure skater Patrick Chan, hockey player Steven Stamkos and short track speed skater Marianne St-Gelais will serve as active living ambassadors, helping to inspire Canadians to be more active through their own stories of passion, determination and dedication to active, healthy living.

"Coca-Cola Canada is proud to support these three exemplary athletes as they strive to achieve their dreams of going for the gold at the XXII Olympic Winter Games," says Nicola Kettlitz, President, Coca-Cola Ltd. "The commitment and tenacity of these athletes serve as an inspiring reminder for all of us to get up and get moving every day."

Leading up to the XXII Olympic Winter Games, the athletes will be fully integrated into Coca-Cola's marketing campaign.  Their inspiring stories will be featured on Coca-Cola's Olympic digital hub, and they will be sharing their personal tips for making everyday activity a must for Canadian families.  Beginning in January, limited edition Coca-Cola Olympic Games collector can packaging will include the signatures of each athlete over silhouette images of a hockey player, short track speed skater and figure skater.  The athletes will also be featured in both in-store and digital marketing campaigns, as well as Cinema and TV advertising.  The Coca-Cola Company has been a proud supporter of the Olympic Games since 1928.

About the Athletes

Patrick Chan, Figure Skating (Ottawa, Ontario):

• Patrick Chan is the three-time reigning World champion (2011, 2012, 2013), six-time reigning national champion (2008-2013) and two-time Grand Prix Final champion (2010, 2011).

Steven Stamkos, Hockey (Markham, Ontario):

• Steven Stamkos is a Canadian professional hockey player, selected first overall in the 2008 draft.  As a professional he has won many awards, including the league scoring title twice.

Marianne St-Gelais, Short Track Speed Skating (St-Félicien, Quebec):

• Marianne St-Gelais won two silver medals at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in the 500m and 3,000m relay. She has also won five World Championship medals in her sport, and was named Speed Skating Canada's Female Short Track Skater of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

About Coca-Cola Canada
Coca-Cola in Canada operates in all ten provinces, and employs 6,300 people in more than 50 facilities, including seven production facilities across Canada. We offer a wide variety of beverage brands, many of which come in no-calorie and low-calorie options. These beverages include sparkling soft drinks, still waters, juices and fruit beverages, sports drinks, energy drinks and ready-to-drink teas. We're proud to offer some of the most popular brands in Canada including Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coca-Cola Zero®, Sprite®, Fanta®, Nestea®, PowerAde®, Minute Maid®, Dasani® and vitaminwater®. Coca-Cola in Canada is represented by Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada and Coca-Cola Ltd. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.livepositively.ca or www.cocacola.ca and follow us on Twitter @cocacolaco_ca.

Image with caption: "Coca-Cola Canada Olympic Athlete, Patrick Chan, surprised teens at a Toronto ParticipACTION Teen Challenge event on December 10. (CNW Group/Coca-Cola Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131211_C9357_PHOTO_EN_34844.jpg

Image with caption: "Coca-Cola Canada Olympic Athlete, Marianne St-Gelais, surprised teens at a Montreal ParticipACTION Teen Challenge event on December 10. (CNW Group/Coca-Cola Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131211_C9357_PHOTO_EN_34842.jpg

SOURCE: Coca-Cola Canada