Asia Pacific, Central America, Eastern Europe Among Regions Whose Special Olympics Athletes will be fueled by Herbalife
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global nutrition company Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) announced today its support of more than 700 Special Olympics athletes, coaches and staff from around the world who are coming to Los Angeles to compete in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, starting on July 25, including one of the World Games’ youngest athletes.
The support of Special Olympics athletes from countries in Central America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, is in addition to Herbalife’s official role as Games Supplier for the World Games, which includes providing nutrition bars to athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers and honored guests at all sports venues and general dining areas.
“We are honored to directly support more than 700 Special Olympics athletes who are coming to Los Angeles from all over the world to compete in this city’s biggest sporting event of the year,” said Michael O. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer, Herbalife. “We welcome the Special Olympics World Games to Los Angeles and we are excited to play our part in such an important event in bringing good nutrition to athletes, coaches and volunteers throughout the games.”
“Herbalife is a global nutrition company that shares our commitment to health, diversity and community,” said Patrick McClenahan, President and CEO of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. “From its employee participation at the World Games to its network of members in over 90 countries providing support, Herbalife will bring outstanding awareness to our mission of acceptance and inclusion.”
Herbalife’s support features one of the World Games’ youngest athletes: 12-year-old Romanian swimmer Ana Baltag. Baltag also practices karate, where she has earned a green belt. Herbalife is supporting three other athletes from Romania who are participating in swimming and bocce. Independent Herbalife members in Romania are also supporting the entire Romanian Special Olympics delegation traveling to Los Angeles. In Slovakia and Croatia, Herbalife will provide nutrition products to Special Olympics athletes in the days leading up to the World Games.
In Los Angeles, Herbalife donated its Los Angeles Distribution Center to serve as the organizing committee’s Uniform Distribution and Credentialing Center (UDAC), and volunteer registration hub in the weeks leading up to the Games. Additionally, Herbalife in Los Angeles is supporting 23-year-old Costa Rican Ariel Ary, who will participate in beach volleyball as part of Costa Rica’s volleyball Unified team. The beach volleyball games will take place in Long Beach.
Herbalife’s largest regional support is for the Russian delegation, where nearly 250 athletes are coming to Los Angeles to participate in 24 sporting events. The entire Russian delegation has access to Herbalife products, along with apparel and accessories.
Herbalife’s second-largest regional support is for delegations in Asia Pacific, where more than 200 Special Olympics athletes are coming to Los Angeles from Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand. In addition to having access to Herbalife nutrition products, these athletes received a mixture of apparel kits and sports bags.
The Herbalife-supported group coming from the Central American country of El Salvador includes more than 20 athletes, each of whom will receive a special tour of Herbalife’s LA Live corporate facilities, where Herbalife officials will introduce key performance products to the athletes.
In Mexico, more than 120 Herbalife-supported athletes are traveling to Los Angeles to participate in various games. In addition to being fueled by Herbalife products, they also received apparel kits and sports bags.
In South Africa, through a series of fundraising efforts by Herbalife employees and independent Herbalife members, Herbalife is supporting the South African national team, whose 90-person delegation includes coaches and athletes competing in 10 different sports including table tennis, football, bocce, swimming and equestrian.
In Italy, Herbalife independent members are supporting the entire Italian Special Olympics swim team, consisting of eight athletes and two coaches. The support includes providing the swim team with Herbalife apparel and a complete supply of Herbalife’s product line and supplements.
In Ghana, after struggling to secure funding for airfare and equipment, the Ghana Special Olympics delegation made a public appeal for support. Herbalife members quickly rallied around the request for funding, and are providing support that will help Ghana participate in this year’s Special Olympics World Games.
The World Games will feature 25 Olympic-style sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Half Marathon, Handball, Judo, Kayaking, Open Water Swimming, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, and Beach Volleyball. These Games will showcase the unlimited potential of people with intellectual disabilities – the largest disability population in the world.
About Herbalife
Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has been changing people's lives with great products since 1980. Our nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through dedicated Independent Herbalife members in more than 90 countries. We are committed to fighting the worldwide problems of poor nutrition and obesity by offering high-quality products, one-on-one coaching with a Herbalife member and a community that inspires customers to live a healthy, active life.
We support the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. We also sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the LA Galaxy and champions in many other sports.
About the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015)
With 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches representing 165 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games - being staged in Los Angeles July 25 - August 2, 2015 - will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. On April 30, 2014, LA2015 and ESPN announced a global programming deal that will see ESPN bring coverage of World Games to millions of fans around the world. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts. Current Founding Champions and sponsors include The Coca-Cola Company, Mattel, Deloitte, Toyota, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, OUE Skyspace Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Davis Elen Advertising, Microsoft, Toys“R”Us, The Walt Disney Company, Google, UPS, Herbalife Nutrition, Los Angeles Times, AMC Theaters, La Opinión, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, WWE, Los Angeles News Group, AEG, Annenberg Foundation, LA84 Foundation, David Geffen, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, Panda Express, and Knights of Columbus. LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee, is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150723005107/en/
Herbalife
Mike Gutierrez
213-745-0401
michaelgu@herbalife.com
Source: Herbalife
Released Jul 23, 2015 • 9:00am EDT