The airline, one of the fastest-growing in the world, will become Official Sponsor of the AFC and the Official Airline of Asia’s most prestigious soccer events, encompassing club and national team events.
These include the AFC Asian Cup 2007, the AFC Champions League, the FIFA World Cup 2006 – Asian Qualifiers and the Asian Football Qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic Games.
The agreement, brokered by World Sport Group, the exclusive sponsorship and broadcasting partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will run from now until the end of 2008.
Emirates’ commitment to Asian soccer started in 1996 when the airline was the Official Airline of the AFC Asian Cup 1996, the continent’s premier national team competition.
In 2001, Emirates signed a four-year deal to become Official Supporter of Asian football.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates’ executive vice president - commercial operations worldwide, said: “We believe sponsorship is one of the best ways of getting closer to our customers. It allows us to share and support their interests and to build a personal relationship with them. There is no greater vehicle for this in Asia than through football, with the region’s enormous fan base and passion for the game.”
Mohamed bin Hamamm, president of the AFC, said: “The extension of our partnership will help Asian football reach new markets and build on the already high interest that Asian football is enjoying around the world. This is thanks in no small part to the airline's global route network.”
