NBA All-Star Dwight Howard highlights Duracell's "Rely on copper to go for the Gold" Olympic Games Program

Inspired by the hard work and training of American athletes as they prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Duracell, a Procter & Gamble (P&G) brand, announced today the launch of its "Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold" program. Headlined by six-time NBA All-Star and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Dwight Howard, and featuring Olympians Hunter Kemper (triathlon), siblings Mark and Diana Lopez (taekwondo), and Olympic Gold Medalist Summer Sanders, "Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold" gives consumers a portal to provide encouragement for the athletes through videos, pictures and texts as they train and compete for the Games in London.

Just as athletes rely on the power of their devices when training, they also rely on the power of fan support. Duracell’s online Virtual Stadium will offer consumers the unique opportunity to experience the road to the Games through the eyes of these world class athletes, and in turn, send them the power of encouragement and inspiration through video, text and photo messages. Additionally, by submitting motivational messages to the Duracell Virtual Stadium, consumers have the chance to win a trip to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games or a $500 Visa® gift card.

"Whether in training or using battery power in their everyday lives, athletes trust in Duracell to make sure they are always prepared for what life has to offer," said Volker Kuhn, General Manager for Duracell North America. "Duracell is committed to powering Team USA, and it’s our privilege to provide consumers with a tangible and meaningful way to help athletes achieve their Olympic Games dreams."

Duracell Virtual Stadium

Duracell is encouraging fans to band together in its online Virtual Stadium to support the athletes who are hoping to make Team USA. Here people can leave video, text and photo messages of encouragement for specific athletes, sports or Team USA in general. The site also features a navigable mosaic that allows consumers and athletes to search for messages left for a specific athlete or sport. Culminating at the Games, Team USA athletes will be able to interact with the Virtual Stadium in person through motion-sensing technology. Consumers and athletes can access the Virtual Stadium via Facebook (Facebook.com/Duracell) and a free mobile application. Consumers can also participate via Twitter by using the hashtag #GivePower and letting @Duracellknow who they are supporting.

Duracell Power Athletes

The Duracell roster of athletes will bolster the "Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold" program through their support at events, social media activations and ongoing fan engagement.

"Training for the Olympic Games is an incredibly grueling process, and hearing, seeing and reading fans’ messages of support remind us that we represent the red, white and blue. That makes us train harder, try harder and compete with a winning edge," said Summer Sanders. "Please join me in supporting the athletes by heading to the Duracell Virtual Stadium to cheer on Team USA."

· Dwight Howard: Arguably one of the most dominant and charismatic forces in professional basketball, Howard is teaming with Duracell on his path to the Olympic Games. Howard has an arsenal of accolades for his powerful game including an Olympic Games Gold medal, four All-NBA First Team selections, six NBA All-Star appearances and three consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards.

· Summer Sanders: An Olympic Games Gold medalist and mother, Sanders will serve as the brand’s Copper Correspondent for the duration of the program, rallying fans behind Team USA and providing insight and regular updates as the Duracell athletes train for the gold. Sanders understands firsthand the power of fan support to motivate and inspire, as it helped lead her to the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where she emerged as the most decorated U.S. swimmer, winning four medals – two gold, a silver and a bronze.

· Hunter Kemper: A highly-decorated triathlete and father, Kemper recently experienced the strength of fan support as he persevered through injury to now be training for his fourth Olympic Games. Kemper has twice been named the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) Triathlete of the Year, and in 2005 was named the USOC Male Sportsman of the Year.

· Mark and Diana Lopez: The youngest members of the "first family of Taekwondo," the Lopez siblings know the importance of support from those around them. Since a young age, they have trained at their family’s facility in Houston and competed at the national and global level. In 2008, their family made Olympic Games history by becoming the first to have three siblings competing on the same U.S. Olympic Team since 1904. Both Mark and Diana hold a world championship title, and a silver and bronze Olympic Games medal, respectively.

To learn more about Duracell’s "Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold" program and to support Team USA, visit Duracell’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/Duracell).

For more information, visit: www.duracell.com

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

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