Emirates - official partner for FIFA World Cup

by Lal Gunasekera

Emirates, the Dubai based international airline, is an official partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup for a sum of US Dollars 200 million and are also the official airline for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups too.

Speaking at a briefing at the Trans Asia Hotel last Thursday, Emirates Area Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Tissa Bibile, said that Emirates is delighted to be associated with one of the greatest sporting events in the world and to continue with their commitment to sports round the world.

Emirates also has an agreement with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) till 2008, and is associated in numerous sponsorship deals, including a 100 Million Pounds with Arsenal, a top notch club in England. The airline is also associated with the elite umpires panel of the International Cricket Council (ICC). motor sports, golf, horse-racing and various other sports.

Devika Ellepola also of Emirates said that the airline has been involved with sporting events for "quite a while". Emirates plans to be a global brand and involve themselves with high profile sporting events.

Thirty-two countries are competing for the FIFA World Cup to be staged in Germany from June 9 to July 9 in eight groups. They are: Group 'A' - Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador, Group 'B' - England, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Sweden, Group 'C' - Argentina, Cote d'lvoeire, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands, Group 'D' - Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal, Group 'E' - Italy, Gahana, USA, Czech Republic, Group 'F' - Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan, Group 'G' - France, Switzerland, South Korea, Togo, Group 'H' - Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.