ABN AMRO joined the WorldHockey partners on Thursday, when the worldwide operating bank signed a four year agreement with the International Hockey Federation (FIH). During a press conference held during the BDO Hockey Champions Trophy, women in Quilmes, Argentina, FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman and the President of ABN AMRO Netherlands Jan Peter Schmittmann announced that ABN AMRO will be the title sponsor of the Men's Champions Trophies in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
ABN AMRO is the fourth WorldHockey partner, joining Ata Holding, BDO International and Samsung. Part of the agreement is that ABN AMRO is the title sponsor of three of FIH's major events: the men's Champions Trophies in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Furthermore the partnership includes that ABN AMRO will be the title sponsor of the WorldHockey Magazine program in 2007 and involves the bank in all of FIH's 29 major events over the four-year period.
ÔÇÿThis agreement is a major step forward for the FIH', President Els van Breda Vriesman stated. ÔÇÿABN AMRO is, like FIH, an organization present on all continents and in nearly all of our hockey countries. They are very proactive in making all of their sports sponsorship work for both parties, not just in hockey and I am sure, together with FIH's other partners, ABN AMRO will add major value to continue to professionalize FIH's major events.'
Being WorldHockey partner of the FIH, ABN AMRO will strengthen its position in the international hockey world. The bank would like to achieve a better position in strong hockey countries like Pakistan and India and being title sponsor of major FIH events will be beneficial in achieving this goal.
The ABN AMRO is sponsor of different teams in the Dutch national league and supports 70 hockey clubs in Netherlands. Hockey is a sport with respect, integrity, teamwork and professionalism: the key factors of ABN AMRO.
The new FIH sponsor structure exists since 1 January 2007 of a group of top tier sponsors, the WorldHockey partners, and a group of official suppliers. All WorldHockey partners are allocated to different tournaments, including the rights as a title sponsor and advise the FIH about their preference in finding the best location for the FIH events.
For photos from the contract signing and press conference, please click here.
