Media Release Route de Genève 46 Case postale Communiqué aux médias CH-1260 Nyon 2 Union des associations Tel. +41 22 994 45 59 européennes de football Medien-Mitteilung Fax +41 22 994 37 37 uefa.com [email protected] Date: 22/05/2003 No. 071 - 2003 UEFA renews partnership with adidas adidas continue as official supplier of UEFA Champions League until 2006 UEFA today announced that an agreement has been reached with adidas-Salomon AG to continue as an official supplier of the UEFA Champions League for the next three years (2003-2006). The announcement of the deal was made today in Milan, Italy, together with the launch of the new adidas Finale match ball of the UEFA Champions League. The first match involving the 2003 steel blue Finale ball will be this season's UEFA Champions League Final in Manchester on Wednesday 28 May between Juventus FC and AC Milan. This third edition of the adidas Finale match ball was presented in Milan alongside two of the players that will star in the Final, Rui Costa of AC Milan and Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus FC. “The UEFA Champions League is without doubt the premier club competition in the world and I am pleased that adidas have further strengthened their support by continuing our long association and remaining a UEFA Champions League official supplier until at least 2006,” said Gerhard Aigner, Chief Executive Officer of UEFA. The extension of adidas' involvement in the UEFA Champions League is part of the strategy to focus on the core assets of worldwide football properties. adidas will again launch top class specially designed UEFA Champions League apparel as well as cross branded apparel with clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League. They will further support their partnership through various promotions including equipping ball boys and staff at the UEFA Champions League venues. Commenting on the announcement Erich Stamminger, member of the Executive Board of adidas- Salomon AG responsible for Global Marketing said: “The UEFA Champions League is where the best in football meet the very best and therefore it is a natural place for adidas to be!” adidas join the Sponsor Partners Amstel, Ford, MasterCard and PlayStation who confirmed their commitment to the UEFA Champions League earlier this year. Direct telephone line to UEFA Media Services: ++41 22 99 44 55 9 .