BUD
LIGHT TO SPONSOR STEVE FOSSETT'S UPCOMING SOLO ROUND-THE-WORLD
BALLOON MISSION
World-Renowned
Adventurer To Launch "Bud Light Spirit of Freedom"
in June
ST.
LOUIS (May 13, 2002) - Bud Light, the world's best-selling
light beer, today announced it will sponsor adventurer Steve
Fossett's upcoming attempt to complete the first solo
round-the-world balloon mission. Fossett is scheduled to
launch the "Bud Light Spirit of Freedom" balloon
from Northam, Australia, in June. Fossett has attempted to
circumnavigate the globe five previous times during 1997, 1998
and 2001. His last attempt was in August 2001, when he
also launched from Northam, and inclement weather forced him
to land in Bage, Brazil, after 12 days. That is the
longest solo balloon flight on record.
"Steve Fossett is one of the
world's most accomplished adventurers, and we're proud to
support his historic mission to circle the globe," said
Joe Castellano, vice president, retail marketing,
Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Steve and the 'Bud Light
Spirit of Freedom' team have worked hard to prepare for this
journey. With their expertise and competitive fire, they
are ready to make history." Fossett is looking forward to
the upcoming flight. "The first solo round-the-world
balloon flight is my greatest challenge. Again this year, I
have the help of my expert balloon team and student interns
from Washington University in St. Louis. Now Bud Light
has joined the effort. This is a grand adventure and with this
team, I have every chance of success," Fossett said.
Mission control for the flight will
again be located at Washington University in St. Louis.
Immediately after the launch from Northam, the project
manager, mission control director, meteorologists, and other
members of the balloon team will direct round-the-world flight
operations from this nerve center. Eighteen Washington
University students from the School of Engineering &
Applied Science, The Olin School of Business, and the College
of Arts & Sciences will serve as interns on the project,
working closely with the mission control balloon team 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, throughout the duration of the
flight. These internships are made possible by a
generous grant from Barron Hilton, a long-time ballooning
enthusiast and admirer of Steve Fossett and his many
accomplishments.
"Washington University is
pleased to host mission control, and we are especially
grateful to Barron Hilton for making it possible for so many
of our students to have a wonderful learning experience and to
participate in such an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime
adventure," said Mark S. Wrighton, Chancellor of
Washington University in St. Louis. "We all wish
Steve Fossett, our alumnus and trustee, Godspeed and every
success on his upcoming attempt to achieve the last, greatest
record in aviation." Fossett's launch date for the Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom is scheduled for mid- to late June,
based on weather conditions. His launch site is located
in Northam, approximately 60 miles east of Perth, Australia.
For up-to-date information on the status of the Bud Light
Spirit of Freedom mission during and after Fossett's launch,
visit www.spiritoffreedom.com
Fossett holds official world records in balloons, sailboats
and airplanes.
His round-the-world balloon attempts in August 1998 and August
2001 are the longest solo flights in a balloon for distance
and duration, respectively - and, in fact, by any type of
aircraft. He has made the first balloon crossing of
Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, the South Atlantic, South
Pacific and Indian Oceans, plus the first solo flight across
the Pacific Ocean. Bud Light will support its sponsorship of
the mission through
advertising initiatives, as well as feature stories and news
updates on www.BudLight.com.
Anheuser-Busch has a long history of
supporting aviation and aviation challenges. In 1999,
the company awarded the Budweiser Cup trophy and a $1 million
prize to the Breitling Orbiter 3 Team, which became the first
team to successfully complete a round-the-world voyage in a
balloon. The Budweiser Cup prize - which was initiated
in 1997 - included $500,000 awarded to the team and $500,000
awarded to the charity or non-profit organization of their
choice.
In addition, previous aeronautical
sponsorships for Anheuser-Busch include the Bud Light Micro
Jet, the Budweiser.com Airship and a variety of hot air
balloons representing the company's brands. Washington
University, a medium-sized, independent university, is counted
among the world's leaders in teaching and research.
Twenty-one Nobel laureates have been associated with
Washington University, with nine doing the major portion of
their pioneering research there. Approximately 12,000
undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled at
Washington University represent all 50 states and more than 80
international locations. The university's 2,567
full-time faculty teach in eight schools: architecture, art,
arts & sciences, business, engineering, law, medicine and
social work. The university offers more than 90 programs and
almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's, and
doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and
interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for
minor concentrations and individualized programs. Bud Light is
a member of the Budweiser Family of Beers, which are brewed by
Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the world's largest brewer.
