Infront signs Kia Motors as sponsor of China’s national football teams
Sport:
Kia Motors Corporation - part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group – is pursuing an active, global policy of investing in football. It is already a top tier FIFA sponsor, with an agreement which includes the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups™. Its decision to support Team China in the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and South Africa in 2010 is an acknowledgement of the importance of football to Chinese consumers. Football is China’s top sport and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) is determined that the national team acquits itself with distinction on the world stage.
Football in China is undergoing a major period of change and development. Infront has a far-reaching partnership with the CFA which goes beyond the commercial arena. It includes a technical development programme to help build the national team by providing training, coaching and development opportunities of the highest international standard, as well as friendly matches against quality opposition.
International success would transform the focus of football in China. There are more than 250 million football fans in China and they are waiting for the national team to set them alight. The Chinese women’s team has a strong history of success and the fact that the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup takes place in China adds to the attractive synergies.
As the official automotive sponsor of Team China, Kia will provide the CFA with the latest vehicles from its model line-up, to help with the efficient management of team activities, in addition to financial support. The vehicles will be supplied from Kia’s domestic plants and the Dongfeng Yueda Kia factory in China. With the sponsorship agreement, Kia also secures strong, visible presence during the Team China Football events through various onsite advertising opportunities.
Mr. Xie Yalong, General Secretary of CFA, said: “The sponsoring concept of Kia is convincing, innovative and very much in-line with the development concept for Team China. Therefore, we are very pleased to welcome Kia as the official automotive partner of China’s national football teams. We are confident that we will jointly establish a long-term and productive relationship.”
Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, commented, “This sponsorship of Team China further cements Kia’s commitment to football. Our increasing presence in the world’s favourite sport will strengthen the Kia brand among huge audiences and serve as an efficient platform to reach our self-confident, adventurous and young-at-heart target customer base.”
Paul Wong, General Manager of Infront China, added: “We are delighted that Kia has seen the potential in our new approach to sponsorship in China, where everyone works as a team to develop the level and performance of the national team. This long term approach is the right one for this hugely exciting market and we are confident it will pay dividends. In a market the size of China, there is everything to play for.”
About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com or www.kia.com) -- one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world’s premier automotive brands. Kia’s 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in nine countries produce more than 1.3 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 160 countries. Kia today has over 33,000 employees and annual revenues of almost $19 billion. Kia is the official automotive partner of FIFA -- the official governing body of world football.
For further information, please contact:
Jörg Polzer
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
joerg.polzer@infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com
