Thugwane joins Coca-Cola

JAKARTA (JP): South Africa's Olympic marathon gold medalist, Josiah Thugwane, has joined forces with Coca-Cola to launch a multi-million rand (hundreds of millions of rupiah) program to develop the country's athletic stars of the future.

The new venture, to be known as the Josiah Thugwane Coca-Cola Youth Support Fund, will develop opportunities for young South Africans to pursue their athletic ambitions.

Participants will be known as Joshiah's kids, according to a statement released by P.T. Coca-Cola Indonesia yesterday.

The first project will include the construction of an athletics training track in Middleburg, near Thugwane's home.

In Indonesia, Coca-Cola has also undertaken youth sports development programs, including a project featuring the country's top athletes on its soft drink cans. (arf)