Astrology  Chat  Cityscape  Classifieds  Entertainment  Health  Matrimonial 
Music  News  Panorama  Search  Shopping  Services  Tours & Travel  Home

Simran, a leading actress of the Tamil film industry, in what is probably her first public appearance after her marriage, appeared as a Brand Ambassador for the Coca Cola group at the launch of the Chennai leg of its Olympic Torch Bearer nomination programme in Chennai on March 4, 2004. Three torch-bearers are to be selected in the city. The nomination programme in Chennai was launched by Chennai Police Commissioner R Natraj.

Adding fizz to the fun, Simran, the Fanta Brand Ambassador, announced her participation in the Olympic Torch Relay as one of the escort runners. The Relay will take place later in Delhi. The role of an escort runner will be to accompany each torch-bearer in the worldwide Relay. The escort runners will provide assistance to torch-bearers, if needed, and help keep the pace of the Relay on schedule. Each escort runner will travel with the Olympic Flame for approximately 2,000 metres.

The nomination programmes under the theme 'Recognize Inspiration' include an essay competition for school students and key account activation in the city of Chennai.

Area General Manager of Coca-Cola India, Y. Srinivasa Rao said, "We are extremely happy about providing people in Chennai the once-in-a-lifetime experience to be a part of the first truly global Olympic Torch Relay. This is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Chennai to share the magic and spirit of the Olympic Games and will invoke nationalistic pride."

Coca-Cola India will select 42 Torch-Bearers and 7 Escort Runners from across India through the nomination programme. The selected few will proudly represent India in one of the most far-reaching participatory events in human history - the first truly global relay of the Olympic Flame on June 10, 2004 in New Delhi

Coca-Cola India's programmes for selecting the torch-bearers are designed around the theme of 'Recognize Inspiration'. For the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay in New Delhi, Coca-Cola is looking for torch-bearer candidates who are an inspiration to those around them through their celebration of fundamental values such as friendship and peace; or by encouraging the participation of others; or by dedicating themselves to "making a difference"; or by keeping traditions alive in order to contribute to a better world.

Accordingly, the students will be encouraged to write an essay on the person who inspires them the most. And likewise, the nomination forms at key accounts will require the consumer to nominate a person who inspires them. The nominations for all the above-mentioned activities will be screened by a panel of distinguished judges and the lucky few will be invited to New Delhi by Coca-Cola to participate in this historic event.

Chenai Police Commissioner R Natraj said he was happy that an event connected with the Olympics had been launched in Chennai, and it was good that the Coca Cola company had involved the schools of Chennai in it.

Omna Thomas, Principal, Sishya, Kishore Kumar, chief of St John's School and Shalini of Lady Andal School, who were also present, said the students of Chennai schools will be thrilled to have an opportunity to participate in the nomination programme in connection with the list of torch-bearers to be selected from Chennai.

Coca-Cola has more experience in identifying torch-bearers than any other organization in the history of the Olympic Torch Relay, typically passing the large majority of the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame to the consumers and this event shall be no different, Srinivasa Rao said. In recent years, local citizens have been selected as torch-bearers based on their heroism, leadership or achievement in the community; for their personal stories that have inspired others; through local sports competitions; or through Coca-Cola promotions that further give every consumer an equal chance to participate.

All torch-bearers will carry an Olympic Torch and will pass the flame from torch to torch at designated exchange points along the route in each city. Each torch-bearer will carry the flame. approximately 300-to-500 metres. Details of the final Relay route in New Delhi will be announced closer to the arrival of the Olympic Flame here.

The 'ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay' that begins in late May, will be the first relay of the Olympic Flame - one of the most-powerful symbols in the world - to effectively circle the earth. The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay route includes every city that has hosted the summer Olympic Games, as well as Beijing (the 2008 Games host); Brussels, Belgium; Cairo, Egypt; Cape Town, South Africa; Geneva, Switzerland; Istanbul, Turkey; Kiev, Ukraine; Lausanne, Switzerland; New Delhi, India; New York; Nicosia, Cyprus; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Sofia, Bulgaria.

For the first time, the event brings the Olympic Flame to Africa and South America and includes the five continents represented by the Olympic Rings. The theme established by the Athens Organizing Committee for the 'ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay' is - 'Pass the Flame, Unite the World.' Following tradition, the sun's rays at the ancient Greek city of Olympia will ignite the Olympic Flame. After the flame is lighted, it will spend a short period in Greece and then travel the world for 35 days, visiting 33 cities in 26 countries before returning to Greece for the fmal segments of the Torch Relay. In addition to being carried by torch-bearers, the Olympic Flame will travel via automobile, airplane, train, ship, bicycle, camel and other modes of transportation.

On August 13, 2004, the flame's joumey will culminate with the lighting of the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium of Athens, commencing the Games of the XXVITI Olympiad.

Coca-Cola has been associated with the Olympic Games for more than 75 years on a trot -- longer than any other corporate sponsor. Olympic programs such as the 'ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay' give Coca-Cola the opportunity to share some of the Olympic spirit around the world.

Coca-Cola and other products of The Coca-Cola Company help refresh athletes, volunteers, officials and spectators during the Olympic Games. In addition to the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola has created popular activities at the Games themselves, such as signature Coca-Cola Olympic Pin Trading Centers and Coca-Cola Radio. The Coca-Cola Company also works closely with National Olympic Committees around the world to assist athletes in training for the Olympic Games.

• The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay will travel around the world for 35 days visiting 34 cities (including Ancient Olympia) in 27 countries (including Greece).

• The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay has several "firsts" including:

• The first truly global Olympic Torch Relay

• The first time the Olympic flame will visit Africa (Cairo, Egypt and Cape Town, South Africa)

• The first time the Olympic flame will visit South America (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

• The first time the Olympic flame will visit all land masses represented by the Olympic rings (Oceania, Asia, Africa, Americas and Europe)

• The first time the Olympic flame will visit all former host cities of the Olympic Summer Games

• The Olympic flame, ignited by the sun's rays in ancient Olympia, Greece, and kept in a lantern, travels with the relay. A torch is lit from the flame every morning to start that day's relay. The Olympic flame is passed from torch to torch. The lantern is closely guarded to ensure that the flame is never extinguished.

More than 3,600 torch-bearers will pass the Olympic flame during the international route for the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic flame will travel by automobile, airplane, boat, bicycle, wheelchair and motorcycle.

• More than 1,500 kilometres by torch-bearers.

• More than 78,000 kilometres by air.

• An average of 48 kilometres per day.

• Each torch-bearer will carry the flame approximately 400 metres.

• The Olympic flame will stop at the 'end of each day for a city celebration.

• The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay will:

• Change time zones 37 times

• Use 20 local currencies

• Utilize 19 languages

• More than 260 million people reside in the 34 metropolitan areas where the Olympic flame will pass.

• More than 3.8 billion people reside in the 27 countries on the Relay.

R Rangaraj