 Symbolic Olive Tree Planted in Ancient Olympia
Photo by Giorgos Spiliopoulos/courtesy
The Coca-Cola Company
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ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, March 23, 2008
- Global explorer and environmentalist Douglas Stoup (center),
an "environmental champion" torchbearer selected
by Coca-Cola for the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Torch Relay, places a symbolic olive tree in the ground
at Ancient Olympia. The March 23 ceremony recognized reforestation
efforts at the Greek birthplace of the Olympic Games,
which was devastated last year by wildfires, and marked
the launch of worldwide, environmentally themed activities
by Coke for the Olympic Torch Relay.
Other "environmental champion"
torchbearers joining Stoup for Sunday's tree-planting
included Igor Chestin (left, with shovel), the director
of WWF-Russia, and Wang Lee-Hom (right, with shovel),
the Chinese pop star and environmental protection advocate.
The global Olympic Torch Relay begins Monday (24 March)
with the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic Flame in Ancient
Olympia.
 Torchbearers
Plant Olive Tree in Ancient Olympia
Photo by Giorgos Spiliopoulos/courtesy
The Coca-Cola Company
download
»
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, March 23, 2008
- "Environmental champion" torchbearers selected
by Coca-Cola from around the world planted
a symbolic olive tree Sunday in Ancient Olympia, birthplace
of the Olympic Games. The ceremony recognized reforestation
efforts funded by the beverage company for areas of Ancient
Olympia -- devastated last year by wildfires -- and marked
the launch of worldwide, environmentally themed activities
by Coke for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay.
Environmental champion torchbearers and
officials at Sunday's ceremony included (left to right):
Torchbearer Douglas Stoup, a global explorer and environmentalist;
torchbearer Igor Chestin, of WWF-Russia; torchbearer George
Kazantzopoulos, of the Hellenic Institute for Environmental
Management in Greece; Ioannis Karras, environmental director
of the Hellenic Olympic Committee; Anastasia Sideri, public
affairs and communications director, Coca-Cola Greece;
Dirk Veryser, president, Coca-Cola Greece; torchbearer
Wang Lee-Hom, the Chinese pop star and environmental protection
advocate; and torchbearer Liu Hong-Liang, an environmental
scientist also from China.
The global Olympic Torch Relay begins Monday
(24 March) with the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic
Flame in Ancient Olympia.
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