News Releases
Beijing (14th June, 2018) – Bridgestone China (Bridgestone), a subsidiary of the world’s largest tire and rubber company and a Worldwide Olympic Partner, today officially introduces Team Bridgestone with a message of “CHASE YOUR DREAM” in Beijing, China. Bridgestone is partnering with badminton player Chen Long, swimmer Ye Shiwen and table tennis player Fan Zhengdong as athlete ambassadors who will represent the brand in marketing activities and a variety of employee and CSR communications.
“These athletes embody what it means to ‘Be Bridgestone’, and their spirit of perseverance and hard work is closely aligned with Bridgestone’s core values. We believe they will help us inspire more people to share these same values and chase their dreams,” said Mr. Yamasaki Kenji, Managing Director of Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
As a proud Worldwide Olympic Partner since 2014, Bridgestone is supporting the Olympic Movement with a message of “CHASE YOUR DREAM” that empowers individuals to overcome adversity and constantly strive to realize their goals. In the spirit of that message, globally, Bridgestone has now partnered with nearly 40 individual athletes and one team across 11 countries and regions to represent Team Bridgestone.
China is a sporting powerhouse where badminton, swimming and table tennis represent the key sports strength of the country. Bridgestone is proud to welcome the three athletes who are also the top players in their respective fields. With a combined three Olympic gold medals, these world-class athletes are aspiring to achieve more Olympic glory at the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. We look forward to supporting Team Bridgestone on their journey to the Olympic Games and leveraging their “CHASE YOUR DREAM” spirit to connect with Chinese consumers.
In addition to being a Worldwide Olympic Partner, Bridgestone Corporation became the first Founding Partner of the Olympic Channel in August 2016. The company’s four-year agreement provides support for the ground-breaking digital platform in its mission to celebrate the Olympic Movement and its world-class athletes every day of the year.
For more information, please visit: http://www.chaseyourdream.cn
About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.
About Bridgestone Corporation’s Worldwide Olympic Partnership:
Bridgestone Corporation proudly became an official Worldwide Partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on June 13, 2014. The 10-year agreement made Bridgestone a Worldwide Olympic Partner for the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where the company’s global headquarters are located, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, and the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Partnership also includes support for the next three Youth Olympic Games. Through this long-term commitment to the Olympic Movement, Bridgestone is extending a proud sporting heritage and history of innovation that dates more than 100 years, as well as showcasing its commitment to community service, diversity, social responsibility and environmental stewardship – all tenets of the Olympic Charter that also lie at the heart of the Bridgestone brand.
Badminton Athlete – Chen Long Biography
January 18, 1989 (age 29), born in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China
Chen Long joined the China National Badminton Team in 2006 and emerged as a world junior champion at the 2007 BWF World Junior Championships. After claiming bronze in men’s singles at the Olympic Games London 2012 for his first Olympic medal, Chen Long won gold in the same event at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 to lead a Chinese sweep of the podium. He has also won two BWF world championships, and added his first Badminton Asia Championships title in 2017. Chen Long is a two-time world champion.
Swimming Athlete – Ye Shiwen Biography
March 1, 1996 (age 22), born in Hangzhou, Zhejing Province, China
Ye Shiwen started swimming at the age of six and joined the National Swimming Team in 2010. As a 16-year-old at the Olympic Games London 2012, she won gold medals in both the 400 metres and 200 metres individual medley, breaking the world record in the 400 metres and the Olympic record in the 200 metres. Ye Shiwen is the first Chinese national swimmers who won two Olympic gold medals in one Olympic Games.
Table Tennis Athlete - Fan Zhengdong Biography
22 January 1997 (age 21), born in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Fan Zhengdong was selected by the Chinese Table Tennis Club at the age of eleven and joined the Chinese National Table Tennis Team in February 2012. Subsequently in December 2012, he won championships for men’s team, men’s singles and mixes doubles in the World Table Tennis Youth Championships. He was the champion in men’s singles at the Men’s Table Tennis World Cup in 2016 and runner-up in the 30th Asian Cup Table Tennis Tournament in 2017. In 2018, he is ranked world No.1 for men’s singles by the International Table Tennis Federation and won the Table Tennis World Cup in the team program.