The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and adidas today announced that adidas has become the latest Tier One Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games – becoming Official Sportswear Partner.
A host of international sports stars attended the central London launch including World sprint Champions Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix alongside legendary Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, British sprint hopeful Craig Pickering, gold medal winning decathlete Daley Thompson, Paralympic hopeful Shelly Woods and BMX rider Shanaze Reade.
To celebrate the announcement adidas turned various parts of the capital into unexpected sports venues. The Millennium Bridge became a 100m track, there was pole vaulting over London buses in Horse Guards Parade and Olympic 2012 hopeful Louis Smith hung under Marble Arch. Flash Judo sprung up in Covent Garden, there was fencing on the Centre Point and BMX bikes raced around a track floating on the Thames.
The deal with adidas will see the sportswear company receive marketing and licensing rights to London 2012, providing kit for the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association in Vancouver 2010 and London 2012. In addition, during the Games in 2012, adidas will provide sportswear to Games Officials, London 2012 staff and volunteers. adidas will also have exclusive licensing rights for branded and unbranded sportswear at London 2012 venues and stores.
The deal with London 2012 represents the biggest ever single event sponsorship investment by adidas in the UK.
adidas Global CEO Herbert Hainer, said “This is a fantastic opportunity for adidas and we’re excited to become a Tier One sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We will play a major role in what promises to be one of the best sporting events the world has ever seen. We believe our deep involvement in the Games will help us to be the leading sports brand in the UK, the largest sportswear market in Europe.”
LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed adidas to the London 2012 family. “We extend a very warm welcome to adidas – they are a perfect partner for us as we share many common goals, including a vision to reach out and inspire young people in the UK and beyond. The team at LOCOG and I look forward to working with them over the next five years or so. One of our challenges as an organising committee is to raise £2bn to stage the Games in 2012 and our commercial programme is driving this. “
The British Olympic Association’s (BOA) CEO Simon Clegg, welcomed the opportunity to continue Team GB’s partnership with adidas. “adidas has supplied the kit and equipment to British Olympic athletes for over 20 years. Time and again they have proved they can deliver outstanding performance wear and technical equipment that give our athletes a competitive edge in the Olympic arena. Their knowledge and understanding of our Olympic sports is always an important asset as we prepare our teams for both Summer and Winter Games and for a number of Youth Olympic Festivals. The BOA and Olympic sports in this country are delighted that we will have the opportunity to continue this association with adidas through to and beyond London 2012.”
British Paralympic Association Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “We are delighted that adidas have come on board as an official partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and will continue to supply first-class sportswear to our athletes. adidas has supplied the Paralympics GB team with official kit since the BPA’s creation in 1989 and it has always proved to be of exceptional standard. We believe the technical quality and design of the kit provides our athletes with a performance edge and, as a result, we look forward to continuing to work with adidas to help our athletes have the best possible chances of success in Vancouver in 2010 and in front of a home crowd in London in 2012.”
adidas is also encouraging people to join in by setting their own challenge and demonstrating their sporting prowess. Whether it’s showing off BMX skills in the garden or beating your personal best for consecutive back flips, video clips can be shared and viewed at www.adidas.com/london2012
adidas becomes the third Tier One Partner for London 2012 after Lloyds TSB (Banking and Insurance Partner) and EDF Energy (Utilities Services Partner).