(ATR) Muhtar Kent praises Russia for their organisation of the Sochi Games as he opened the drinks giant’s pavilion in the Olympic Park.
The chairman and chief executive paid tribute to the inclusiveness of the Olympics, saying: "Everyone should be very proud."
Around the Rings was given access to the private opening of the Coca-Cola Active Healthy Living Showcase. The event was attended by IOC president Thomas Bach, deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak, Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko and Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov.
Kent gave a speech underlining Coca-Cola’s commitment to the Olympic Movement and to health initiatives; the pavilion has interactive exhibits aimed at educating people about the importance of exercise in daily life.
Bach, sporting a black sweater and in dressed-down mode, and the Russian officials sipped on Coca-Cola for the camera before the IOC chief departed for the mountains and an afternoon at the cross country venue.
Coca-Cola said Kent was not doing any media, a tactic possibly employed to keep him away from having to respond to any controversies around the Sochi Olympics.
"Great to see you all, thank you," Kent said, clapping the company’s employees staffing the pavilion before he was whisked off to other meetings.
Kent arrived on Friday to attend the opening ceremony and will leave on Monday.
The Coca-Cola Active Healthy Living Showcase is one of the company’s largest exhibits at a winter Olympics at 700 square meters.
It was officially opened to the public Saturday afternoon.
The showcase is comprised of two domes. The first includes historical and product facts, chronicling the company's history in sport and history in Russia.
Visitors also have the opportunity to get their photo taken with the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch.
The second dome provides interactive activations that, says the company, "demonstrate simple and fun ways people can get active at home, in the street or at the gym".
The showcase has been created to live on once the Games are over. Following the Sochi Olympics, it will travel to cities across Russia – for the next four years and up to 2018 when the country hosts the FIFA World Cup – "inspiring people around the country on ways to get active".
Written by Mark Bisson.
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