SEATTLE, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ — With the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in nearby Vancouver B.C. only months away, Comcast today unveiled a unique, new advertising and integrated marketing campaign that features some of the state’s most exciting winter athletes and benefits some of the state’s most inspiring people – the athletes of Special Olympics Washington.
Comcast and representatives from Special Olympics Washington announced the comprehensive broadcast and print campaign called ‘Comcast Local Heroes’ at a news conference this morning at Seattle’s Westin hotel. Organizers are hoping the campaign can raise as much as $80,000 to be split between Special Olympics Washington and the state’s elite winter athletes.
The comprehensive marketing campaign features the Comcast Local Heroes, a unique combination of some of the state’s most talented winter athletes, world champions, past Olympians, Olympic hopefuls, athletes from Special Olympics Washington and Washington’s own skiing legend, Phil Mahre.
“Having had the opportunity to compete in multiple Olympiads, and having had the good fortune to live out my own dream of winning a gold medal, I can attest to how incredibly important sponsor support can be to an athlete’s success,” said Mahre, who won a gold medal in the slalom at the 1984 Winter Olympics. “I love that Comcast is reaching out to support these kids before they become household names, when they need it most, and that they are doing so in a highly visible way that will showcase these great athletes to people across Washington and that it all ties together in support of a great organization like Special Olympics Washington. I wish this sort of program was around when I was competing and I’m honored to be part of it now. ”
In addition to Mahre, the Comcast Local Heroes team includes; Scott Macartney, a downhill skier from Kirkland; Bree Schaaf, a bobsled driver from Bremerton; Shelby Corno, a Special Olympian from Sammamish; Torin Koos, a cross country skier from Leavenworth; Karen Thatcher, an ice hockey player and world champion from Blaine; J.R. Celski, a short track speed skater and world champion from Federal Way; Kenneth Larson, a Special Olympian from Tukwila; Patrick Deneen, a freestyle skier and world champion from Cle Elum; and, Sean Halsted, an adaptive nordic skier from Spokane.
“Comcast’s connection to our local customers and to the local communities where we live and work has always been important to the company. We see this campaign not only as a great way to raise awareness of the many aspiring Olympic athletes in this state, but to support our Special Olympians, who have been such an inspiration to all of us,” said Tom Pierce, VP of Sales and Marketing for Comcast and a member of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Washington.
The campaign, which begins today, highlights Comcast’s Local Heroes using Comcast products and services to keep them connected to friends and family as well as entertained. The team’s two Special Olympians, Shelby Corno and Kenneth Larson, are featured in group shots with the rest of the Comcast Local Heroes team as well as in advertisements and marketing materials, promoting the sale of a Comcast Local Heroes commemorative pin to benefit the Local Heroes and Special Olympics Washington.
“We are extremely grateful to Comcast for their longtime support of Special Olympics Washington and for including us in this campaign. We believe the huge reach of this campaign will have a positive impact on our organization and help us raise awareness of Special Olympics,” said Beth Wojick, Chief Executive Officer for Special Olympics Washington.
Collecting pins commemorating the Olympic Games has been an extremely popular pastime among fans. The Comcast commemorative pins can be ordered online at http://www.comcastlocalheroes.com/. Each pin costs $10 plus tax, shipping and handling.
A lot of information will be shared as the campaign unfolds. For reporters who could not make the news conference, here is a video with comments by Olympic Gold Medalist Phil Mahre and Beth Wojick, CEO for Special Olympics Washington.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) (NASDAQ: CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 6.8 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast’s Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
Comcast’s Washington market, based in Lynnwood, serves more than 1.1 million customers in Western Washington and Spokane. Comcast operates three major call centers in Washington and employs more than 3,000 local residents.
About Special Olympics Washington
Special Olympics Washington provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The regular Special Olympics program has no upper age limit, with athletes eligible for competition beginning at 8-years old. Special Olympics Washington also offers a new Young Athletes program for children ages 2 to 7. By participating in sports, physical fitness and health education programs, participants increase self-confidence and social skills, improve physical and motor skills, and have better success in leading more productive and independent lives. More than 7,000 athletes participate in Special Olympics Washington activities, competing in local competitions, state and regional tournaments and the State Games. Ten Special Olympics Washington athletes competed in the 2007 World Summer Games in China and 14 competed in the 2009 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. For more information, please visit SOWA.org or call 206.829.4949.
