(ATR) Audi is the official automobile partner of the IOC through 2016. The German car manufacturer announced the deal on Monday.
Audi replaces Daimler-Benz, the IOC’s automotive partner since 1991.
"Through our cooperation with the IOC as the top-level global organization we aim to link our brand even closer with international sport," Luca de Meo, member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales, said in a statement. "We’re going to shape many exciting joint projects in the future."
Under the terms of the deal, Audi will provide more than 40 vehicles at IOC headquarters and other international events through 2016. The statement announcing the deal adds: "there are plans to jointly develop projects, for instance in the area of Corporate Responsibility, within the scope of the suppliership."
"The IOC is delighted to have Audi, a world renowned company, as its official automobile supplier, and we look forward to developing further social responsibility initiatives with them in the near future as part of this agreement," said IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper.
Audi is part of the Volkswagen group, sponsor of the 2008 and 2014 Olympics. Audi also sponsors the International Ski Federation and the National Olympic Committees of Finland, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.
The announcement adds to the mixed bag of automobile sponsorships in the Olympic Movement. BMW sponsored the 2012 Games and is the sponsor of several NOCs. Daimler-Benz also has NOC partnerships, while Nissan is the automobile partner of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. With the competitive Korean marketplace, it is possible that a Korean manufacturer will sponsor the 2018 Olympics.
Written by Ed Hula III.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.