Coca-Cola has released a Unified Song for the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017, which will take place March 14-25 in Austria. “Can You Feel It” is performed by Austrian singer Rose May Alaba with musicians with intellectual disabilities from the organization Jugend am Werk (Youth at Work) playing the Veeh harp, a plucked string instrument that does not require the ability to read music. Download it here on iTunes here.

Alaba wrote the lyrics, and the music was composed by Markus Weiss and Bern Wagner. “This song means a lot to me personally,” Alaba said. “The journey from the idea to the release was full of great experiences. The lyrics are about team spirit, altruism and motivation. ‘Can You Feel It’ brings happiness and aims to motivate the athletes, their fans and every person out there.” 

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Ben Doro Dad


Alaba will perform “Can You Feel It” live at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 opening ceremony in Schladming (March 18) and closing ceremony in Graz (March 24). Coca-Cola also will feature the anthem in its marketing campaign for the Games.

 

“Thanks to the positive power of sports, the Special Olympics are a driving force for togetherness and for supporting each other,” said Philipp Bodzenta, general manager of the Special Olympics project for Coca-Cola Austria. “It’s all about vitality, optimism and inclusion. Our commitment helps to acknowledge the great achievements of the participants and to spread the spirit of the Special Olympics. Our special thanks go to the Veeh harp players of Jugend am Werk whose performances were just incredible.”

Thomas Kamenar

The Coca-Cola Company is the founding partner and Global Sponsor of Special Olympics, the world’s largest health and sports organization dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities. Since 1968 – Special Olympics’ inception – the company has maintained a deep commitment to the organization and has supported the organization’s programs through product and equipment donations, marketing support and more. For the past 48 years, Coca-Cola has showcased the unlimited potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and the power of sport to bring people together both on and off the field of play.

Coca-Cola also released a Unified Song, “Reach Up”, in support of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015.