adidas is ready for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™
Nuremberg - Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, Franz Beckenbauer, President of the World Cup 2006 Organizing Committee, and football stars Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira and Michael Ballack were among the numerous high-profile sports stars who yesterday joined adidas at the Exhibition Center in Nuremberg to celebrate the start of the brand's initiatives for the 2006 FIFA World Cup&trase; in Germany.
"adidas is ready for the FIFA World Cup. Having the world's biggest sporting event take place in our home market is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Herbert Hainer, CEO of adidas-Salomon AG. "Our exciting product innovations and our inspirational marketing efforts will ensure that adidas will expand its global number one position in football."
adidas will introduce the first World Cup related products in the second half of 2005. In 2006, football sales are expected to rise to more than € 1 billion. In 2004, adidas' football sales grew by more than 20% to over € 900 million. Currently, adidas has a share of 35% of the world's football market.
Earlier this year adidas secured its presence at the world's most watched sports events, by extending its long-term partnership agreement with FIFA granting adidas the Official Partnership, Suppliership and Licensing rights for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2010 and 2014. In addition, adidas has partnerships with football federations such as Germany, the host of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, South Africa, the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, European Champions Greece, Asian Champions Japan, Olympic Champions Argentina, China, Denmark, France, Nigeria and Spain. Prominent clubs, such as FC Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, AC Milan and FC River Plate, also endorse adidas products. Additionally, individual players like David Beckham, Kaká, Zinédine Zidane, Raúl González and Michael Ballack represent their respective clubs wearing state-of-the-art adidas football equipment.
adidas-Salomon is a global leader within the sporting goods industry and offers a broad range of products with brands such as adidas, Salomon and TaylorMade in its portfolio.