Coca-Cola was selected as the headline partner of the Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) 2026 National Summer Games, which is a collaboration that is designed to spotlight athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The brand is set to launch a national campaign next month featuring Special Olympics GB athletes which marks their journeys from local community clubs to UK competitions.

For the first time, this year Coca-Cola GB and bottler Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) are participating in a co-ordinated collaboration which merges brand platforms and local activations.

Staff members from both companies are set to volunteer within the games, and CCEP will support the events by providing products.

Dusan Stojankic, general manager at Coca-Cola GB, said: “This partnership is about recognising the dedication, talent and potential of athletes with intellectual disabilities and helping to give them the visibility they deserve.

“By working together with Special Olympics GB, we hope to inspire more people to see these athletes as role models and believe they can follow in their footsteps.”

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This builds on a longstanding collaboration between The Coca-Cola Company and Special Olympics GB, which was first launched in 1978.

Additionally, the brand is partnering with Co-op to return its Meals That Matter meal deal campaign to stores across the country.

During the campaign, Special Olympics GB athletes will be featured across hundreds of Co-op supermarkets, with a donation made towards the initiative.

Laura Baxter MBE, CEO of Special Olympics GB, said: “This partnership is about putting our athletes where they belong, in the spotlight.

“With Coca-Cola’s support, we’re working to redefine how intellectual disability is seen in sport and society. The Games will be a powerful moment to bring that to life on a national stage.”