Luci Teal to star in Olympic advertising campaign

Olympic Torch Relay Advert (Luci is the third one in from the left hand side, with purple hair!)

Coca-Cola has announced Luci Teal, 28, from Rochdale, has been selected to feature in Coca-Cola’s national billboard advertising campaign alongside Dizzee Rascal to help build excitement as the Olympic Flame travels around the country this summer, ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It was announced last month that Luci had been selected by Coca-Cola, Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, to join over 1,300 Future Flames who have been given the once in a lifetime experience of carrying the Olympic Flame. Coca-Cola, the longest continuous supporter of the Olympic Movement, is shining a light on the best of British youth by recognising, rewarding and inspiring the young people who use their passions to make Britain Burn Brighter.

Luci is a serial campaigner and fundraiser for various national and local charities. Every year she takes part in dozens of runs and various challenges to help raise funds and awareness and to help inspire ordinary people that you don’t need to be a great athlete to participate in sport, to get fit or to raise money. Luci is also a regular feature on her local community radio station where she shares her experiences and motivates people to get out the door and do some good!

Coca-Cola launched its Future Flames nomination campaign last summer, aiming to recognise and reward the positive contributions made by young people every day in the UK by giving them the opportunity to run with the Olympic Flame. The nationwide campaign called on the country to nominate people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities.

Coca-Cola also recently announced it is helping the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and host Local Authorities to bring music and celebration to every corner of the UK through the Olympic Torch Relay’s 66 Evening Celebrations, showcasing up-and-coming British music talent and some of the country’s best loved stars. This focus on music builds on Coca-Cola’s Move to the Beat campaign, which fuses music and sport to bring teens closer to the Olympic Games through a unique collaboration with GRAMMY award-winning producer Mark Ronson and chart topping dub-step vocalist Katy B.

Coca-Cola is now calling on everyone in the UK to come out in force to celebrate their local Future Flames by cheering them on as they run along the UK’s roads or by attending one of the Evening Celebrations.

Luci said: I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Coca-Cola for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity to run with the Olympic Flame. Not only that, I’m also extremely excited to have been selected as one of the faces to appear on giant billboards up and down the country to help spread the warmth and excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay and magic of the Games. It’s a dream come true and can’t wait for the Games to get here!”

James Williams, Director of the Olympic Torch Relay at The Coca-Cola Company, said:
“As Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, we’re extremely proud of Coca-Cola’s Future Flames who are some of the most inspiring young people in the country. What better way to celebrate this incredible bunch than to use their powerful stories to help inspire and unite the nation in support of all the Torchbearers as they carry the Olympic Flame through over 1,000 communities. We urge everyone to join us in cheering them on as they run the route and to come down to their local evening party and ‘Move to the Beat’ alongside some of the UK’s most exciting music talent.”

Dizzee Rascal said: “There’s too much negativity about young people these days. We need to recognise the positive. Everyone should join the party along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay and at the evening celebrations, and show their respect for our Future Flames.”

Details of the full line up of the evening celebrations will be announced in due course. To find out more information visit www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay