is the number one Watched !

Minnesota Biathlon Olympic Development Team Sponsorship 2005.2006

www.minnesotabiathlon.com”Bound For Torino” What is Biathlon? Biathlon is a sport that captures the attention and imagination of place finish at the World Jr. Championships and he’ll be everyone who sees it. In so many ways, it is a typical Olympic back again in 2005 along with a stronger, more endeavor – combining the most physically demanding sport of experienced team. With 12 of 15 members of the 2004 cross-country with the intense precision of rifle U.S. World Junior Team coming from Minnesota, our marksmanship. These opposing disciplines collide at the athletes have been, and will continue to be the core of shooting range. With hearts pounding nearly three times a the U.S. team for years to come. second, athletes struggle to control their breathing as they shoot, knowing that every shot and the number of seconds it takes to make it, will determine who stands on the podium that day. It is this drama, combined with wonderful visual images of the competitors, which has lead biathlon to be the top rated winter sport on European TV.

Sponsor the Minnesota Biathlon Olympic Development Team and help these dedicated athletes face the challenge of biathlon with the support they need to win!

US Biathletes are well respected on the international arena and have been producing strong results. Our Olympic Development Team is among the strongest in the world with numerous medals at World Junior Championships and European Cup. In 2004, Minnesota athlete Ben Byrne led the US team with his fourth What is Minnesota Biathlon About? Our Mission: We are an Olympic development program dedicated to: •Providing the opportunity for young athletes to learn about the sport of biathlon and to provide them the coaching and support so they can make long term progress •Recruiting and training athletes to compete at an international level •Supporting our national caliber athletes in their efforts to compete with the best in the world •Promoting the sport of biathlon and cross country skiing through events, media, and programs •Developing new biathlon programs and facilities around the country. Why Sponsor The Minnesota Biathlon Olympic Development Program? Who: Young athletes aspiring to be the best cross-country skier / rifle marksmen in the United States

What: Training & competing to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team at the U.S. Trials in Ft Kent in January 2006. Also to win medals at the World Junior Championships in Fort Kent, Maine in January 2006, and the 2006 Olympics, February 2006, Torino, Italy. XC Skier Demographics:

Minnesota has the biggest xc skiing Where: Programs are based in Duluth, Twin Cities, Ely, Grand Rapids, Brainerd, high school league in the nation, with and St.Cloud, and training sites in West Yellowstone, Mt, and Park City, Utah. over 80 high school programs.

When: Champions are athletes Gender Participation runs 50/50 24 hours a day 7 days a week 60% of Americas 6.6 million cross country skiers are between 35-54. Why: Average age is 38. •Biathlon is one of the Junior skiers (age 14-20) are the toughest and if you can do it, you can do anything future of our sport. Juniors also grant •No American has ever won an Olympic medal in biathlon sponsors a great entry into the lives •Challenge is good for the soul and lifestyles of active and affluent families nation-wide, not to mention •The hard work and discipline required of a successful biathlete are life lessons that they are grand consumers in that transcend sport their own right.

Why are these great marketing opportunities? Masters Skiers (age 35+) identify with athletes that juggle families, full These events bring attention and dollars into the Upper Midwest, and are a time careers and active outdoor celebration of winter and winter sport. These events are a great showcase for lifestyles. sponsors for a number of reasons: •Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing are sports with (a) clean reputations - athletes Average cross country skier earns $52,000 per year. More than 70% of are clean cut, modest, and well spoken. America’s cross country skiers earn •Biathletes and Cross country skiers are in it for the love of the sport, not the big incomes exceeding $35,000 dollar contracts and endorsements. Education: •Minnesota is home to a number of biathlon and cross country skiing Olympians 82% attended college who will be competing at the Junior World Championships, U.S. Olympic Trials, 40% post graduate education and hopefully the . •Cross country is a lifetime sport and is a very family oriented activity. 43% of America’s Cross country skiers have children •All Minnesota Biathlon race venues, Elk River, Duluth, St Cloud, and Mt. Itasca, 61% are married have been developed and maintained by local volunteers. These volunteer 78% own personal computers operations host major events to promote biathlon and 500,000 XC skiers in Minnesota/ Wisconsin. cross country skiing, as well as to bring people to their communities. Events and opportunities International Event Sponsorship:

World Junior Biathlon Championships Presque Isle, ME January 30-February 5, 2006 The World Junior Biathlon Championships brings together the very best Junior (age 19-20) and Youth (age 17-18) biathlon competitors from 30 countries. This event will mark the first time in their 39 year history national Event Sponsorship: that these championships will be held in the United States. Organizers are expecting hundreds of the top World Junior Trials and North American Cup athletes from around the world, and their support staff December 17-20, 2005 to descend on Aroostook County, Maine for the two- Mt. Itasca, Minnesota week event. Thousands of spectators will also be on The World Junior Trials/North American Cup will hand. bring together the top North American biathletes as they prepare for the Olympic Trials in the U.S. and The World Junior Biathlon Championships will be Canada. This event will chose the teams for the U.S. televised in the U.S. on Outdoor Life Network as a part and Canadian World Junior Championship Teams of the 12 week series. World (ages 17-20), and provide a tune up event for the Junior Championships will also be distributed in Europe senior competitors (age 21 and up) who will be in by the European Broadcast Union and will be televised final preparation for the Olympic Trials in January. Mt in Germany, and , as well as other Itasca is one of the most popular, as well as the European countries. toughest, biathlon venues in North America, and was designed specifically to maximize spectator viewing of the races.

This will be the 4th time that Mt. Itasca has hosted the World Junior Biathlon Trials/North American Cup. Minnesota Olympic Development Team athletes have dominated the ranks of the US Junior team over the last 10 years, so local interest in this event is high. Olympic Development Team Training and Competition Schedule

May-June Mt. Itasca Training

June 25-July 2 Altitude Camp, Park City, UT

July 5-July 30 Mt. Itasca Training

July 30-Aug 7 Testing Camp, Olympic Training Center, Lake Placid, NY

Aug 8-Aug 14 Summer Race Festival, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, VT

Sept 5-20 Altitude Camp, Park City, UT

Oct 18-20 Fall Race Festival, Camp Ripley, Little Falls, MN

Nov 18-Dec 5 On Camp, West Yellowstone, MT

Dec 10-11 North American Cup, Canmore, Alberta

Dec 17-20 World Junior Trials/NorAm Cup, Mt Itasca, MN

Dec 27-Jan 1 Olympic Trials, Fort Kent, ME

Jan 15-Jan 25 Preparation Camp, Presque Isle, ME

Jan 26-Feb 5 World Junior Championships, Presque Isle, ME

Feb 10-27, 2006 Olympic Games, Torino, Italy

www.minnesotabiathlon.com Sponsorship Visibility

Visibility on the :

Ski and Rifle Markings: Sponsor logo applied to competitor’s equipment for ski control and visibility

Racing Bibs: Logo and name featured on Race Bib - this is the most visible area for sponsor logos

Race Course: Banners on course fencing, at start/ finish area and at shooting range

Announcing: Name featured during race by announcer and on radio and TV reports

Visibility off the course:

Podium Backdrop: Banner space at podium, post- race awards, interview and banquet

Official Documents: Logo and name featured in press releases, poster, spectator guide and website

Spokespeople: Athletes and Coaches available for trade shows, corporate events, and speaking engagements. Biathlon is a sport with a clean reputation - athletes are clean cut, modest, and well spoken.

Promotional: Use of relationship, logo and imagery for individual sponsor promotion

VIP Access: VIP lounge, mingle with international coaches and athletes Sponsorship packages World Junior Trials - Mt Itasca, MN Minnesota Olympic Event Title and Minnesota Olympic Development Team - Team Sponsor Development Team Sponsorship

Cost $80,000 $70,000 Racing Bib Title Ski Marking / Rifle Marking - Sponsor logo stamp or sticker applied to all competitors and X rifles On Course Banners X Start / Finish Area - Stadium Banners X Announcing TV, radio, newsprint, sponsor name included in event name

On the course Event Podium Backdrop X

Official Documents: Event Press Releases and Publication X Event Poster, Program, T-shirt, Website, X Provide spokespeople- Athletes and coaches provided for sponsor X X events (eg, trade show) Team Norweigan Style Team Sweater- 2 team sweaters Norweigan Style Team Sweater- 2 team sweaters will be presented to sponsor at special event will be presented to sponsor at special event Dev Team Photos and letter of Appreciation X X Image Rights- Use of athletes and coaches images in a a manner X X agreed upon by both parties Promote- relationship between sponsor and Dev Team at all times X X High Res JPEG Images- will be provided for marketing X X opportunities Opportunity to Ski with Dev Team in W. Yellowstone Training Camp X X VIP Access in Jr World Trials X VIP Access at World Junior X Off the course Champs

www.minnesotabiathlon.com Please Contact:

Piotr Bednarski Director Minnesota Olympic Development Team 5032 28th St. St Louis Park, MN 55416 952.924.0381 [email protected]

Angus MacGreigor Assistant Coach and Marketing Director Minnesota Olympic Development Team PO Box 518 Park City, Utah 84060 Cell 360.303.6535 [email protected]

www.minnesotabiathlon.com

Design by Ben Kremer - [email protected] Biathlon is the number one Watched Sport in Europe!

Minnesota Biathlon Olympic Development Team Sponsorship 2005.2006

www.minnesotabiathlon.com”Bound For Torino”