One of the world’s leading automotive suppliers, the German firm has signed on for the next two editions of the European Championships following a “thoroughly gratifying experience” at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Continental is no stranger to football sponsorship with the company's tyre division acting as an official sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the German Cup.
“After the thoroughly gratifying experience with UEFA Euro 2008, we intend to bolster our top market position in Europe by means of these two exclusive sponsoring agreements,” said Nikolai Setzer, executive board member for Continental's tyre division. “The image attributes – passion, precision and the kind of team spirit expressed so well during the world's best football tournaments – match up perfectly with our premium brand and to the Continental company as a whole.”
Setzer added: “The world's second biggest football tournament grabs a lot of attention in the countries immediately adjacent, in the strategically important growth markets in eastern Europe, as well as in Asia and South America.” In signing up as a global sponsor, Continental enhances UEFA’s European Championship portfolio which also includes Adidas, Canon, Carlsberg, Castrol, Coca-Cola, Hyundai-Kia, McDonald's, Orange and Sharp. UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein, said: “It is great to be able to welcome Continental back to the UEFA Euro sponsor family. Continental has been an active supporter of the game for many years.”
Epstein continued: “Having a global, broadly based and trusted company like Continental as a UEFA Euro 2012 and 2016 sponsor is a great asset for UEFA and we are honoured to welcome them on board. We look forward to working closely with Continental on our shared mission of making both Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 exciting and memorable events.”