SportBusiness.com

OSAKA 2007 SPONSORSHIP SOLD OUT

With less than a month to go before the start of the 11th edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka 2007, the IAAF announced the finalisation of its sponsorship sales’ programme.

The event is a sell out with the target of eight international sponsors packages now allocated. The official IAAF Partners are TDK, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Epson, Mizuno, Nikon, Seiko and VTB.

In recent months the IAAF announced a ground breaking deal with VTB, the first Russian corporation to sponsor an International Sports federation, and most recently a new deal with Nikon - an iconic brand in the field of photography. The IAAF is also pleased that Coca Cola has signed up as a sponsor for the 2007 event. In addition, Mondo joins the group at the international supplier level.

Osaka 2007 also has a very successful national sponsorship programme, with the Local Organising Committee signing agreements with 10 partners and six suppliers, demonstrating the attraction of track and field athletics in the key Japanese market.

While a number of the international sponsor partners are already committed to continuing with the IAAF, discussions are ongoing with a number of other potential partners for the future. It is expected that the 2009 edition of the World Championships, which takes place in Berlin, will also be a sell out.

“The enthusiastic desire of so many major international corporations to support the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics clearly demonstrates the strength of our flagship competition,” commented IAAF President Lamine Diack. “The equation is straightforward. Dramatic sport attracts excited, loyal spectators and this equals good business.”

Dentsu is the IAAF’s exclusive worldwide Marketing Partner for the IAAF World Athletics Series of competitions.