Media database under: www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com Issue 05/12 | June 2012 Online version under: https://c-inside.conti.de/ > Reifen ContiTireNews Tires for Passenger Cars Tires for Motorbikes Editor responsible under press law: Continental Corporation Continental Corporation Tires for Bikes Alexander Bahlmann Dr. Christiane Pfeiffer Head of Media & Public Relations PLT Head of Communications CVT Tires Divison Tires Division Tires for Trucks and Buses Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Phone: +49 511 938-2615 Phone: +49 511 938-2683 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Tires for Industry
Authors: Klaus Engelhart, Ildiko Kovacs, Dr. Christiane Pfeiffer, Anna Stuhlmeier, Ute Weiss
Continental Enhances the Safety of the World’s Top Football Players.
Exclusive tire partner of the UEFA EURO 2012™ Continental tires for teams, fans and officials Associated with football for more than 100 years
When the European football championship in Poland HSR 2 for all team buses and Ukraine kicks off in National Stadium of Warsaw this summer, the athletes, as well as the tens of thousands In view of the distance involved, it is fitting that fans, will be heading into a tournament characterized by Continental is not only an official sponsor but also the long distances. Under the concept of the host nations, tournament´s exclusive tire supplier. For the safe and the teams that play in Poland during the group phase comfortable transport of the players during this major will to travel to Ukraine, for the quarter- and semi-finals, European event, all team buses will be fitted with HSR and vice versa. Should Germany qualify for the final on 2 premium bus tire. Designed for demanding service in July 1 in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, the players will have mixed regional and charter transportation, it can be used traveled between 3,800 and 4,600 kilometers by the fi- on both the steering and drive axles. It boasts excellent nal whistle – depending on whether they finish first or handling, smooth running as well as ride comfort and, in second in the group phase. addition, are particularly cost efficient. Issue 05/12 | June 2012 ContiTireNews Page 2
40 ContiBuses for fans at the Polish Football is a part of match locations. corporation`s history.
Not only the players, but also the fans benefit from the Additionally, vehicles of the UEFA officials will be fitted As marketing platform for improving the international enhanced safety provided by Continental´s products. with nearly the entire Continental summer tire family. brand awareness, football is for Continental, just a fur- 40 so ContiBuses will be used in the four Polish venues: This includes the ther logical step on a long road. Indeed, the close link Warsaw, Poznan, Gdansk and Wroclaw. These buses ContiEcoContact 5, between the company from Hanover and the spherical will help fans get from the fan zones to the stadiums on ContiPremium 5 and sporting object has a long tradition. The company ge- match days and boost the regular transport service in ContiSportContact 5, passenger tires as well as the nerated significant sales from soft rubber balls already the cities free-of-charge on match-free days. The special ContiCrossContact UHP for off-road vehicles and the before 1900. As football quickly gained popularity in European Championship edition HSU1 tire will be fitted ContiVancoContact series for vans. Germany in the 1920s, the corporation began to produce on the buses. What distinguishes the event tire from the bladders for leather footballs, as well as stitched mol- conventional HSU 1 tire is its special side wall design ded soles for gymnastic and sports shoes. Initial foot- with stylized footballs and the yellow Continental logo. ball sponsoring activities go back to the 1950s and sup- ported Hannover 96, the football team of Lower Saxony´s Providing football pros capital. Back when professional sports as well as pitch with safety since 2003 perimeter advertising were still unknown and it was for- bidden to advertise on shirts, Continental offered jobs in As exclusive tire partner, Continental has gathered a the Vahrenwald plant to the players Werner Müller und great deal of experience from similar large events in the Rolf Paetz, who were both members of the 1954 cham- last few years. Since 2006, UEFA and FIFA have fitted pion team. After Hannover 96´s title win (secured by a premium tires from Continental on their officials’ vehicles 5-1 victory over the hot favorites 1.FC Kaiserslautern), and the team buses of Nations participating in the Euro- the team photo, that hit the press was taken on the roof pean championships and World Cup. Since 2010, Bayern of the Conti building. Munich has also relied on safety from Continental and not only on the team bus. The service vehicles provided to Neuer, Lahm, Robben, Ribery, Schweinsteiger and Co. feature tires from Continental.
To ensure passenger safety and availability of the vehicle And because football stars often own exceptional vehi- for the entire duration of the tournament, service tech- cles with powerful engines, a special safety training was nicians from the Conti 360° network will check all tires developed in Hannover in 2003. Under the motto Pros on a daily basis. Nonetheless, should a tire go flat, quick test with Pros, numerous top athletes have since recei- help is on hand. For this purpose, two service vehicles ved tips for driving at the limit from professional safety with special technology will be stationed at every match trainers at the Corporation’s test track. location. Issue 05/12 | June 2012 ContiTireNews Page 3
Football for Continental really became a meaningful mar- keting strategy in 1995 when UEFA decided to replace the outdated European cup with the Champions league. From its launch Continental was part of the game. The quality of football marketing reached an unpreceden- ted level of professionalism and the Champions League enthralled sports fans throughout Europe. It was an ideal opportunity to draw the attention of potential customers and consumers to Continental tires, through a mutu- al interest. The involvement has really paid off. Brand awareness rose in all core markets already after the first season. The expression “Continental is football” still holds true today.
One of the leading sponsors in European football
In recent years, the company has developed into one of the leading sponsors of European football. Through the partnership with the International Federation of Associ- ation Football (FIFA) for the football World Cup 2006 in Germany and 2010 in South Africa Continental AG emer- ged into the view of sports fans for good.
In Europe, the company was also involved in the Euro- pean Football Championships in Austria and Switzerland in 2008 as well as this year´s tournament in Poland and Ukraine. On a national level, sponsoring has received an additional boost through the support of the DFB cup competition since the 2011/2012 season.
And Continental will remain on the ball in the years ahead. The sponsorship contracts with the German foot- ball association have just been extended until 2014. The planning for the 2014 FIFA football world cup Brazil™ is already underway. And the agreements with the Europe- an Football union for the UEFA EURO 2016™ in France have already been signed as well.