As part of the Olympic Solidarity program, Daimler AG handed over a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.
The vehicle was jointly presented by Dr Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Dr Hansgeorg Niefer, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, to Gideon Sam, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.
The donation is the expression of a solid partnership for more than 17 years between leading worldwide sports organizations and Daimler which is represented in around 200 countries. In South Africa Daimler activities are represented by Mercedes-Benz South Africa supporting consistently projects representing the brand values of the company like respect, passion, integrity and discipline.
Peace and understanding among nations, fairness and international friendship are the common ideals and goals that link the IOC and Daimler.
As a company operating worldwide, Daimler has much in common with the IOC. Both partners stand for a fair and open competition, friendship, intercultural dialogue and a willingness to perform. Just like the Olympic movement, Daimler also supports team spirit, discipline and willingness to perform.
In handing over the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Dr Hansgeorg Niefer explained, “With this partnership, we wish to demonstrate that we are a company that lives up to its responsibility to society, as every corporate is part of the society in which it operates. This Daimler partnership is not only limited to sports; it also shows joint efforts in social and cultural areas. With our Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, we are honoured to be able to make a practical contribution, in which we provide for mobility and bring young people together."
The 22-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will secure the transport of young South African athletes between the decentralized training locations within the country as well as to competitions. The Sprinter is world renown and is the vehicle of choice because of its safety, reliability and comfort.
Since 1996, Daimler has provided more than one hundred Mercedes-Benz mini-buses to National Olympic Committees on all five continents.
The IOC is also convinced of the cooperation with Daimler. “We are very pleased with this long and proven cooperation. It's more than sponsoring. For the IOC, it is really a strategic partnership, a close association,” IOC president Dr Jacques Rogge explains.
The main emphasis of the long-term cooperation is the planning and development of joint projects as well as supporting social and humanitarian interests on all five continents.
Especially in Africa and Asia, Daimler AG supports the construction of sports and training centers for children and young people. Since 1998, so‑called "OlympAfrica Centers" have arisen in twelve African countries. In the meantime, these exemplary projects have been expanded to include "OlympAsia" and "OlympOceania".
Through the partnership with the IOC, in existence since 1991, Daimler AG additionally supports athletes from young, development-oriented countries.
As well as pure sponsorship of mass sport and elite sport, Mercedes-Benz supplies vehicles for the IOC and provides platforms for meetings and dialogue in the form of functions and receptions at international sporting events.
STORY BY MERCEDES-BENZ
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