Coca-Cola Canada rises to challenges put forth by 2008 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

The 2008 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card called on Canadians to take action, to engage youth in a way that allows them to direct and design activities that they find motivating, socially stimulating and enjoyable.

Coca-Cola Canada rose to this challenge by dedicating more than $5 million to the development and delivery of a national, youth engagement movement to encourage young Canadians to become more physically active.

Coca-Cola Canada has retained ParticipACTION, Canada's national voice for physical activity and sport participation, to assist in the design and execution of the program. ParticipACTION has the expertise, the experience and the network of community-based organizations that will bring this program to life. The program will launch in October 2008 and will continue through 2012.

This exciting initiative will help young people to reach out and motivate their less active peers to become more active, to develop their leadership skills, and to break down the barriers to active living, as highlighted in the 2008 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card.

Known as a symbol of youth and optimism, Coca-Cola knows how to talk to youth and we embrace the opportunity to use this strength. As the longest standing Olympic sponsor, and a sponsor for the seventh time to the Olympic Torch Relay, we are choosing to leverage our sponsorships to inspire Canadians to get up and get active. We will inspire youth to adopt more active lifestyles by providing the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame to 1000 participants in our program.

Coca-Cola's youth-based active living initiative is our first response to The Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card's call to action, but it is just one of a number of programs that we will be announcing to encourage Canadians to think about the differences they can make by living healthy, active, sustainable lifestyles.

At Coca-Cola we believe strongly in showing leadership through living a positive sustainable reality. Now, we challenge others with the ability to speak to youth - our country's future - to do their part.

Coca-Cola Canada

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. In Canada, the Company is represented by its subsidiary, Coca-Cola Ltd. (Coca-Cola Canada). Coca-Cola is Canada's largest beverage company. Coca-Cola Canada markets three of Canada's top nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Sprite, in addition we are the largest juice and juice drinks company with Minute Maid, Five Alive and Fruitopia and the leading ready to drink tea producer with Nestea. The Company also markets DASANI, PowerAde and other hot and cold beverages.

For more information about Coca-Cola Canada, please visit our website at www.cocacola.ca or our parent company's website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

For further information: Kirsten Mihailides, (604) 828-3534, kmihailides@na.ko.com