Soccerex, the Global Leader for the Business of Football, has confirmed a new multi-year sponsorship deal with the leading sports manufacturer Adidas. The agreement will see Adidas become the Official Partner of the Soccerex Football Festival for the next four years and will provide a fantastic platform for Adidas to utilise on the build up to the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. The Soccerex Football Festival is a 2 day event as part of this year’s Soccerex Global Convention, 20-24 November, Rio de Janeiro.

Claus-Peter Mayer, Vice-President, Global Sport Marketing Football, Adidas commented: “Adidas, the number 1 in global football, is very satisfied and delighted in becoming Official Partner of the Soccerex Football Festival for the next four years. The agreement with Soccerex, the Global Leader for the Business of Football, will provide Adidas with a strategic platform to utilize on the build up to the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. With this agreement we benefit from a natural bridge between the FIFA WC 2010 in South Africa and the FIFA WC 2014 in Brazil. We are looking forward to activate the Soccerex Football Festival with Football content, Ambassadors and grass root elements.”

The Football Festival combines colourful local entertainment with a range of football festivities including a Youth Football Tournament, Freestylers and the main attraction, an International Tournament featuring legends of the game.

In its six-year history, the Soccerex Football Festival has moved from Jumeirah Beach in Dubai to the Nelson Mandela Square in South Africa. Over the next four years the Soccerex Football Festival will be staged on the world-famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Soccerex Head of Sponsorship and Partnerships, Daniel Paiser, said; “ We are delighted that Adidas have chosen to partner the Soccerex Football Festival and would like to welcome them into the Soccerex family” Adidas are one of the leaders in their sector and we are extremely excited and honoured to be working alongside such a brand for the next 4 years. We are looking forward to playing an important role in Adidas’s activation programme in Brazil ahead of the 2014 WC.”

In recent years the festival has attracted legendary players including Eric Cantona, Aldair, Leonardo, Bryan Robson, Ruud Gullit, George Weah, Ossie Ardiles, John Barnes, Lucas Radebe and Ronald de Boer. Teams for the 2010 Legends Tournament will include Brazil, Argentina, England and the current champions Holland.

The Soccerex Global Convention (20-24 November 2010) will consist of an in-depth conference schedule, packed exhibition, a large range of networking and two-day Football Festival all taking place in the Forte de Copacabana, Copacabana beach and Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro.

For further information about this event please call +44 (0)208742 7100 or visit www.soccerex.com/global.