Posted: April 15, 2005

Athletics: adidas and the Boston Athletic Association Announce Sponsorship of Boston Marathon Race Bibs

PORTLAND, Ore. and BOSTON, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- adidas and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) will announce a new sponsorship deal that allows adidas to display its logo on the official race bibs of the Boston Marathon. The deal is effective as of this year and will be officially announced at the Champions Breakfast over Marathon weekend in Boston.

"This sponsorship is yet another example of the successful partnership between the Boston Athletic Association and adidas and we are very excited to add it to the long list of our joint ventures," said Guy Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association.

Martyn Brewer, the adidas Sport Marketing Director said: "The sponsorship of the official race bibs is an important step for us to further strengthen and expand our investment in the Boston Marathon. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the B.A.A. for their continued support and the great work we are able to do with them to support the Boston running community."

Following the announcement, the two sponsorship partners will hold the "adidas Athlete for a Year" contest at the B.A.A. Relay Challenge. Special Guest Grete Waitz will draw two names from a pool of 20 randomly selected participants of the 2005 Boston Marathon. As part of the contest, these two winners will be treated as "honorary athletes" for a year including complete gear provided by adidas and a trip to the USA Track & Field Championship in July.

adidas enters its 17th year as the Official Footwear and Apparel Outfitter of the Boston Marathon. The event is one of eight major marathons that make up the adidas Marathon Series and the only one adidas sponsors in the US.

adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. adidas America is a subsidiary of adidas-Salomon AG, a corporation that also includes sports brands Salomon, TaylorMade, Bonfire and Mavic.

Source: adidas America.