Coca-Cola renews Football Partnership with UEFA through 2009
Nyon (ots)
Extended Agreement includes UEFA EURO 2008 in Switzerland and Austria
The Coca-Cola Company and UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, today announced the extension of their long-term partnership through 2009, including the UEFA European Football Championship 2008, which will be co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.
The agreement extends the exclusive marketing rights of The Coca-Cola Company in the non-alcoholic beverages category across the range of UEFA's EUROTOP events, including UEFA EURO 2008, the UEFA Women's Championship 2009, the UEFA Futsal Championship 2007 & 2009, and the UEFA Under21 Championships in 2006, 2007 & 2009. The commitment by Coca-Cola includes cash and in-kind products and services in support of the broad spectrum of UEFA-organized events around the continent.
Fans, emotions, passion and love of the game
"We are proud to extend our long and rich heritage with UEFA, especially for UEFA EURO 2008, when the best teams from the region will converge on Austria and Switzerland", said Chris Burggraeve, Coca-Cola EU Group Marketing Director. Coca-Cola and football fans worldwide share a long-term love of this game, and Europe has always been at the heart of that passion. Coca-Cola's partnership with UEFA focuses on the ever-increasing development of European football and Coca-Cola is the number one brand for the fans. But over and beyond that, Coca-Cola accompanies fans on the long and passionate journey to the flagship events, such as the UEFA European Football Championship.
Coca-Cola and Football
The Coca-Cola Company has supported international football for more than 70 years, Coca-Cola and football are synonymous. Coca-Cola and optimism go hand in hand. Coca-Cola fans have a stubborn optimism, that helps them support their team through both the highs as well as the lows. A true football fan supports and encourages his team to make the most of each opportunity every time. As UEFA EURO 2008 approaches and gets underway, one thing is for sure: Coca-Cola will be with the fans, through their ups and downs, all the way. "All Euro 2008 marketing and communication activity will yet be another way to allow Coca-Cola to bring the newly announced Global Core Creative Idea "Welcome to the Coke Side of Life" alive to the many Fans", said Chris Burggraeve.
Successful partnership with UEFA since 1988
Founded in 1954 in Basle, Switzerland, UEFA - the Union of European Football Associations - is football's governing body on the continent of Europe. The UEFA European Football Championship has grown into a major world event. The UEFA EURO 2004 final tournament, the 12th of its kind, broke all records, with a cumulative audience of 7.9 billion TV viewers and an average of more than 150 million live viewers for each of the 31 matches. The Coca-Cola Company is one of the longest-standing partners of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), sponsoring events since 1988.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most-valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit the Web site www.coca-cola.com.
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Contact:
Jonathan Chandler
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