Monte Carlo – The IAAF is delighted to announce that Toyota Motor Corporation is continuing its partnership with athletics by supporting both the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2005 (Helsinki) and the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2007 (Osaka).
On top of the official partnership agreement, Toyota will become the official women’s bib sponsor and support the World Record Programme, a promotional initiative which offers a bonus of $100,000 to any woman who breaks an official world record at the World Championships.
‘On behalf of the IAAF, I am very pleased to announce that Toyota will continue to work hand in hand with us as we try to develop the sport of athletics’ said IAAF President Lamine Diack. ‘As one of the world’s top companies, this decision to partner us until 2007 indicates a shared belief in our sport’s values as well as the commercial and marketing potential of our top competition. This new agreement is another sure sign that the last edition of the World Championships in Paris last year was a tremendous success.’
Toyota’s involvement with the IAAF began at the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Paris. In its role as official partner, the company supported the infrastructure for the championships by providing a fleet of 200 cars. The second-generation Toyota Prius—the world’s leading hybrid passenger car combining a powerful low-emissions petrol engine with zero pollution electric motor—was also supplied as the natural choice to lead the world’s best long-distance runners in the marathon events.
In 2005 and in 2007, Toyota will continue to contribute to the success of each event through providing transport solutions and will also have the opportunity to put its company name and logo on the bibs worn by athletes in all of the women’s events.
The 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics will be held from Aug. 6-14, 2005, in Helsinki, Finland. The 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics are scheduled to take place from Aug. 24-Sept. 2, 2007 in Osaka, Japan.
For more details contact:
The IAAF Communications Department at +377 93 10 88 88 or dpt.communications@iaaf.org