| | 100th vehicle donation to promote Olympic sports worldwide |
- DaimlerChrysler hands over a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, 2nd vehicle to Vietnam Olympic Committee
- DaimlerChrysler and the IOC with a partnership of 16 years support social projects and Olympic sports centers in developing countries
Hanoi, 24/7/2007,
As part of the Olympic Solidarity program, DaimlerChrysler handed over a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to the Vietnam Olympic Committee. The vehicle was jointly presented by Wilfried Porth, Executive Vice President and Head of Van Division, and Ser Miang Ng, Executive Member of the International Olympic Committee, to the Vietnam Olympic Committee, represented by its president, Nguyen Danh Thai.
It is the one-hundredth vehicle that DaimlerChrysler has provided to a National Olympic Committee since 1996. With this donation, the VOC is the only National Olympic Committee which has received a second vehicle. Just like the big bus that was handed over exactly 10 years ago, the new Sprinter will also be used to carry young Vietnamese athletes to training sessions and competitions.
The anniversary vehicle is the expression of a solid partnership for more than 16 years between leading worldwide sports organization (IOC) and the company which is represented in around 200 countries (DaimlerChrysler).
As a company operating worldwide, DaimlerChrysler has much in common with the IOC. Both partners stand for a fair and open competition, friendship, inter-cultural 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 explained: “With this partnership, not only 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 Sprinter, we are honored to be able to make practical contribution, in which we provide for mobility and bring young people together”. The 16-seat Sprinter will secure the transport of young athletes between local training venues within the country as well as to competition.
For the VOC, the mobility of athletes is very important. 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. This vehicle can be very supportive, since it helps to greatly improve the training conditions of athletes.
The IOC is also convinced of the co-operation with DaimlerChrysler. “We are very pleased with this long and proven co-operation. It’s more than sponsoring. For the IOC, it is really a strategic partnership, a close association,” explained IOC member Ser Miang Ng.
Mercedes-Benz Vietnam, established 12 years ago with a 10-ha factory in Ho Chi Minh City, is a joint-venture of DaimlerChrysler with a local partner. Employing around 500 well-trained workers and office staff, the factory produces Sprinter as well as luxury sedans E-class and C-class, which are also leaders in their respective segments.
Sprinter is the best-selling vehicle in its segment in Europe. In Vietnam, it is also the No.1 selection of customers, with more than 3,500 units sold from September 2004. Its predecessor, the Mercedes-Benz MB140 was also a big success with 8,000 units sold from 1997-2004.
|
| | |
