Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, today expanded its sponsorship portfolio by becoming an Official Partner of the International Cricket Council (ICC) until 2015.
As an Official Partner of the ICC, Emirates has rights to all ICC major tournaments including the 2011 and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy, ICC World Twenty20, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, ICC Under 19 World Cup, ICC Intercontinental Cup and the ICC Women's World Cup. Through this partnership Emirates will gain considerable media exposure.
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, said: "We have been involved as a sponsor of cricket for many years particularly through our support of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and Match Referees, and our partnership with Cricket Australia. We felt that the time was right to expand our partnership with the ICC.
"Sport is a perfect way to communicate with our customers and cricket has an incredible global following both through the media and the enthusiastic fans at the matches. We look forward to strengthening our association with the game, the other Commercial partners and with the ICC."
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said: "We have already established an excellent relationship with Emirates through its sponsorship of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC match referees and umpires, and the Emirates International Panel of ICC umpires.
"Given that relationship, we are delighted to extend it further, with Emirates becoming an ICC Official Partner up to 2015.
"The ICC is now based in Dubai, the ICC Global Cricket Academy is set to open this year and Dubai is a hub for teams travelling around the world. These facts make this new agreement especially appropriate.
"The ability of the ICC to attract an Official Partner of the calibre of Emirates is evidence of the strength of the game of cricket and the quality and variety of ICC events going through to 2015.
"These events include two ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy tournaments and ICC World Twenty20 tournaments and should ensure our strong sport will get even stronger in the years to come."
Through the partnership with the ICC, Emirates will continue its sponsorship of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and Match Referees; with the Fly Emirates logo being displayed prominently on the umpires' clothing at all ICC events.
Emirates will have prominent branding and hospitality at all the ICC major events and at each of these events the airline's Cabin Crew will be bringing a slice of Emirates flavour by assisting with the trophy ceremonies.
Emirates Airline flies non-stop to six continents from its Dubai base and on 30th March 2008 Cape Town will be added to its rapidly expanding network of over 90 destinations in more than 60 countries.
