SOCAR becomes sponsor of UEFA Euro 2016 (UPDATE)
By Gulgiz Dadashova
Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR announced that it has entered into a major sponsorship deal for the UEFA EURO 2016 and European Qualifiers.
This partnership between SOCAR and UEFA will create innovative opportunities that offer real benefits to the game with such a rich history, being one of the most prestigious national team competitions in the world held every four years and generating huge audiences around the world since the first tournament of which was held back in 1960 in France, the company reported.
As part of this partnership, SOCAR will already be included in the commercial programme for this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship and UEFA Women's EURO final tournaments.
SOCAR also acquires rights in connection with the European Qualifiers, which run from 2014 to 2017, and which relate to the qualification matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. SOCAR also becomes an Official Sponsor of the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, which will take place in Azerbaijan.
SOCAR's Vice-President of marketing and investments Elshad Nasirov said that the company is thrilled to be involved with this forward-thinking project and SOCAR takes great pride in its association with the world of sport.
"This will be our second international sponsorship involvement in football following the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup 2012," he said.
Marketing Director of UEFA Events SA Guy-Laurent Epstein said that they are very pleased to welcome SOCAR as an official partner.
"This comprehensive sponsorship platform will offer SOCAR a unique opportunity to promote their brand and drive engagement with their target audience. SOCAR's aim to become a global energy company, and our collaboration, will bring new opportunities for the promotion of the very best of European national team football to a larger and wider group of fans," Epstein said.
The Azerbaijani company becomes the seventh global partner for the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship, following on from the agreements with Coca-Cola, Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai/Kia, Continental and Carlsberg.
The 2016 UEFA European Football Championship will be the 15th European Championship for national football teams organized by UEFA. It will be held in France from June 10 to July 10.
For the first time the 2016 finals will be a 24 team tournament, having been expanded from the 16 team format that had been used since 1996.