Bangkok--Mar 15--MasterCard International
MasterCard International has renewed its official sponsorship position of the world's largest sporting event -- soccer's World Cup -- which will be held during the summer of 2002 in Japan and South Korea, it was recently announced at a press event in Zurich with FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter. This is the first time the World Cup will be held in Asia.
At the same time, MasterCard announced the continuation of its relationship with three-time World Cup champion Pele, who has been MasterCard's exclusive World Cup spokesman since 1991, through the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
As an official sponsor of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, MasterCard maintains exclusivity in the card-based payment category, which includes all card account access devices such as credit and debit cards, ATM cards, telephone cards, etc., and receives exclusive global category rights to use the FIFA World Cup official marks, logos and designations in advertising, promotions and merchandising. The four-year agreement, which marks MasterCard's third consecutive official World Cup sponsorship, includes two on-field perimeter boards at a total of 14 FIFA international soccer tournaments (see attached list of events) culminating with the 17th FIFA World Cup tournament in 2002. In total, MasterCard will receive exposure at more than 400 matches at championship events held worldwide between 1999 and 2002, reaching a projected cumulative global television audience in excess of 50 billion.
"The first FIFA World Cup of the new millennium offers new and exciting opportunities for MasterCard and its member financial institutions in Asia and around the world," said Robert W. Selander, president and CEO of MasterCard International. "Our objective now is to build upon the equity established during our 1998 World Cup sponsorship, which was leveraged by 356 MasterCard members in 71 countries via initiatives ranging from advertising to promotional sweepstakes to card usage and acquisition programs. We will continue to focus on creating unique and flexible business-building opportunities with members who want to leverage the world's premier sporting event in their respective regions."
"We have had a very successful relationship with MasterCard and are pleased they will remain one of FIFA's partners as we prepare for the first World Cup of the 21st Century," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. "MasterCard's marketing and promotional initiatives in support of the FIFA World Cup are exemplary. Their global efforts have proven to be mutually beneficial for FIFA as well as for MasterCard."
As part of MasterCard's agreement with Pele, which will mark his third consecutive World Cup as MasterCard's official spokesman, he will appear in company and member advertisements and promotional materials worldwide in support of MasterCard's World Cup sponsorship. In addition, Pele will make personal appearances at various functions such as meetings with MasterCard's member financial institutions, at press conferences and other World Cup promotional events for MasterCard.
"We are pleased and proud that Pele will continue his relationship with MasterCard," said Selander. "Over the past eight years, Pele has played an integral role in helping MasterCard leverage its World Cup affiliation. His stature and worldwide popularity have proven to be an important asset for MasterCard and its members."
"I am very happy to remain a part of the MasterCard family," said Pele. "I look forward to helping MasterCard promote "the beautiful game" all over the world, especially throughout Asia and in the host countries -- Japan and South Korea -- where the sport continues to grow."
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Tres Coracoes, Brazil on October 23, 1940, Pele burst onto the international soccer scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. Pele scored a total of six goals including two in a 5-2 triumph over Sweden to give Brazil its first-ever World Cup. He finished his career with 1,282 goals in 1,365 games and led Brazil to World Cup victories in 1962 and 1970.
2002 FIFA World Cup Card Marketing Program; MasterCard Unveils First Two Designs In support of its World Cup sponsorship, MasterCard announced an exclusive 2002 FIFA World Cup Card marketing program which will feature a total of eight World Cup card designs that will be available to MasterCard member financial institutions worldwide over the next four years. Each year, MasterCard will unveil two card designs, one featuring Pele, and the other commemorating the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Both cards will be available to consumers through select MasterCard members banks worldwide.
During the press event, MasterCard unveiled its first two 2002 FIFA World Cup card designs for 1999. The first edition of the Pele card features an action photo of Pele performing a spectacular bicycle kick during a match in 1965. The photo was taken by Brazilian photographer Alberto Ferreira, who captured the moment during an exhibition match featuring defending World Cup champions Brazil against Belgium at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The second card design unveiled commemorates the 2002 FIFA World Cup with exclusive artwork that depicts a goalkeeper making a save with 2002 highlighted in the background.
During a four-year period leading up to the 1998 World Cup in France, more than 1.5 million World Cup cards -- which represents a 50% increase over the number of cards issued in support of the 1994 World Cup -- were issued by 53 MasterCard member financial institutions in a total of 26 countries.
In addition to its sponsorship of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, MasterCard has assembled a portfolio of blue-chip sponsorship assets to appeal to a broad range of members and consumers. These assets include: Jordan Grand Prix Formula One Team, which, along with World Cup, provides MasterCard with two of the three largest global sports sponsorships; World Figure Skating Championships; PGA and Senior PGA Tours; Major League Baseball; National Hockey League; Major League Soccer in the United States; Copa America, the South American Soccer Championships; and Euro 2000, the European Soccer Championship, which is sponsored by MasterCard's European partner, Europay International.
MasterCard International has the most comprehensive portfolio of payment brands in the world. With 23,000 member financial institutions, serving consumers in 220 countries and territories, MasterCard is the industry leader in quality and innovation. Nearly 700 million MasterCard(, Maestro(, Cirrus( and Mondex( cards are accepted at more than 16.2 million locations worldwide. In 1998, gross dollar volume exceeded $650 billion. MasterCard can be reached through its World Wide Web site at http://www.mastercard.com.
For further information, please contact: Prithayuth Nivasabutr, MasterCard Thailand (662) 260-8572 Udomlux Olarn, Presko Shandwick (662) 273-8800 End.