BANGKOK – Hot on the heels of their triumphant athletic performances at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Thailand’s medal winners returned to a hero’s welcome yesterday, complete with a victory parade, numerous interviews by media, and a once-in-a-lifetime audience with the board of directors of PepsiCo Thailand (Limited), to whom the athletes humbly submitted their medals and declared eternal loyalty and reverence.
“Meeting the rulers of Pepsi has always been a childhood dream of mine,” said weightlifter Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon, who won Thailand’s first gold medal in Beijing. “All my life I’ve looked up to images of Pepsi, which are in every home in my village. But to actually stand before them and present them my medal, it’s just overwhelming.”
Although the meeting took place behind closed doors in observance of official Pepsi Executive protocol, it is believed that the meeting took place in the Royal Board Room at the PepsiCo headquarters in Emporium Tower on Sukhumvit Road. At 9:09AM, an auspicious time, His Excellency Marketing Director Charlie Jitcharoongphorn escorted the four Olympians into the room, where they promptly bowed down on one knee and averted their eyes as the 12 board members entered.
“I cannot tell you about them, because it is not proper,” said boxer Somjit Jongjohor. “Also I did not look them in the eye, since I am but a humble Thai man.” According to all four, the medals were presented to the Board as a gift to the Thai people, whose interests are always served by the wisdom of PepsiCo. The Chairman himself then accepted the medals and promised to return them later, after they had been used to promote Pepsi.
“He touched them,” said Buttree Puedpong, silver medalist in taekwondo. “He touched my medal. I can’t wait to tell my mother – she’ll never let anyone wipe it off. She has a shrine to Pepsi in our house that’s been there since their New Generation roadshow came through town in 1991.”
PepsiCo then issued an official proclamation declaring that the four athletes were “inspirations to the nation” and that “PepsiCo joins all of Thailand in expressing its gratitude to these heroes, and hopes everyone will celebrate with a cold and refreshing Pepsi product.” In exchange for their medals, the four athletes will be given lucrative endorsement contracts, official titles in their names, limited immunity from Thai law, and complimentary Pepsi beverages and clothing.
“It’s more than a dream come true,” said boxer Manus Boomjamnung. “It’s the very essence of what it means to be Thai.”
