Coca-Cola became an Olympic sponsor in 1928, beginning with the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The partnership made Coca-Cola the first commercial sponsor of the Olympic Games and began a relationship that has continued for decades.
At the 1928 Games, Coca-Cola supported the event through promotional and refreshment activities. The Amsterdam Olympics were held from July 28 to August 12 and featured athletes from 46 nations. Coca-Cola’s involvement helped establish the model of a major international sporting event working with a global consumer brand.
The company is often described as the longest-standing partner of the Olympic Movement because its support began in 1928 and continued across later Games. This date can be confused with 1932, when the Olympics were held in Los Angeles, or 1936, when the Summer Games took place in Berlin. Neither year marks Coca-Cola’s first Olympic sponsorship; that milestone belongs to Amsterdam in 1928.