NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced its sponsorship of the upcoming 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, making Dow the official chemistry company of the Special Olympics. Dow joins other international sponsors including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and Cisco.
The Summer Games will be held in Athens, June 25 through July 4, 2011. The Special Olympics will draw more than 7,000 Special Olympic Athletes from more than 180 nations, participating in 22 Olympic-type sports.
This is the first time Dow has been a sponsor of the Special Olympics. “Supporting the upcoming World Summer Games aligns with Dow’s core values of integrity and respect for people,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow chairman and CEO. “The Special Olympics celebrates the human spirit unlike any other sporting event, and Dow is proud to be part of it as an official sponsor.”
Dow’s announcement of the Special Olympics sponsorship follows its announcement in July 2010 that Dow had become one of eleven Worldwide Partners of the Olympic Games as part of the Olympic Partners Program (TOP).
"We are thrilled to have Dow’s support for the upcoming Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011,” said Joanna Despotopoulou, President of Athens 2011. "The Special Olympics are about changing lives, building advocacy networks and creating a lasting positive impact. Dow’s commitment to excellence and helping people around the globe makes them an ideal partner for the Special Olympics.
Dow is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, and through this sponsorship, is dedicated to raising that awareness around the world. Dow is honored to partner with the Hellenic Games Organizing Committee and other Sponsor Partners to deliver the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: Dow) combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 3.5 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s backyard. Special Olympics provide people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, and demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship.
Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.