100th vehicle donation to promote Olympic sports worldwide

Muamer Hodzic July 26, 2007

As part of the Olympic Solidarity program, DaimlerChrysler handed over a Mercedes Benz Sprinter to the National Olympic Committee of Vietnam. The vehicle was jointly presented by Wilfried Porth, Director of the Van Business Unit at DaimlerChrysler and Ser Miang Ng, member of the IOC, to the Vietnam Olympic Committee, represented by its president, Nguyen Danh Thai. It is the one-hundredth minibus that DaimlerChrysler has provided to a National Olympic Committee. With the most recent donation, the NOC of Vietnam is the only National Olympic Committee which has received a second vehicle. Just like the first van which was handed over exactly 10 years ago, the new vehicle will also be used to carry young Vietnamese athletes to training sessions and competitions.

The anniversary vehicle is the expression of a good partnership for more than 16 years between leading worldwide sports organizations and the company which is represented in around 200 countries.

As a company operating worldwide, DaimlerChrysler has much in common with the IOC. Both partners stand for a fair and open competition, friendship, intercultural dialog and a willingness to perform. Just like the Olympic movement, DaimlerChrysler also supports team spirit, discipline and willingness to perform.

In handing over the Mercedes Benz Sprinter, Wilfried Porth, Director of the Van Business Unit at DaimlerChrysler explained, “With this partnership, not only we are showing that we promote sports, but also that we are a company that deals responsibly. This partnership is not only limited to sports; it also shows our joint efforts in social and cultural areas. With our Mercedes Benz vans, we are honored to be able to make a practical contribution, in which we provide for mobility and bring young people together.” The 16-seat Mercedes Benz Sprinter will secure the transport of young Vietnamese athletes between the decentralized training locations within the country as well as to competitions.

For the NOC of Vietnam, the mobility of athletes is very important, as its President, President Nguyen Danh Thai explained, “Sports in Vietnam has improved enormously in recent years. That is also shown by the winning of a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney which we are very proud of. But naturally, we would like to achieve more success in the future. And this vehicle can be very supportive, since it helps to greatly improve the training conditions of our athletes.”

Since 1996, DaimlerChrysler has provided almost one hundred Mercedes Benz minibuses to National Olympic Committees on all five continents.

The IOC is also convinced of the cooperation with DaimlerChrysler. “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 member Sei Miang Ng explained.
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, DaimlerChrysler 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, DaimlerChrysler AG additionally supports athletes from young, development-oriented countries.

The project-related cooperation has proven itself. It especially benefits many athletes and young people in less privileged countries.