Posted: August 10, 2005

Athletics: Fila Sponsors Relay Event to Benefit Austin Police Benevolent Society

SPARKS, Md. - Fila has announced its role as the title sponsor for what was originally known as the Zilker Relays. Conceived in 2003, the event - slated for Saturday, September 10 - kicks off the fall racing season with a 4 x 2.5 mile relay that laps Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.

"We chose this event because of our strong desire to promote running at a grassroots level," said Paul Perrone, Director of Running at Fila. "The industry is energized on a day-to-day basis by the individual runner - not necessarily the first athlete to cross the finish line. Fila's vision, as a brand, is to combine elite Italian design elements with high performance products that enable individuals to achieve their personal fitness goals. We can make our most distinctive contribution to the running world at events like this, one runner at a time."

Austin has become something of a running mecca in the past decade, due largely to the scenic parks and trails found at the heart of the city.

"Austin has exceptionally varied terrain that caters to runners of all fitness levels," said Paul Carrozza, CEO of RunTex and Member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. With distinct advantages - from bridges that serve as mile markers to a year-round running climate in a fitness-oriented community - Austin has made running, in Carrozza's words, "the thing to do downtown."

"We believe the Fila Relays will continue to inspire a sense of community, as well as promote fitness in key markets around the United States," said Perrone, adding that the event concept will be replicated in three additional markets in 2006 - New York, Chicago and Southern California. "Austin was chosen as the first stop on the nationwide tour based on merit. We need to give credit where credit is due: RunTex helped create the vibrancy that surrounds the sport in Austin. They blended the quality outdoor living, for which the city is known, and put fitness at the heart of that lifestyle. Basically, they recognized that you have one of the best running environments in the country, in a town that knows how to have a good time."

The Fila Relays are comprised of teams of four that run two loops around the perimeter of Zilker Park. After the race, participants are treated to a free concert and chiliquiles served by top sponsor, Tacodeli. All proceeds from the Austin version of the Fila Relays are to be donated to the Austin Police Benevolent Society. Last year, 111 teams participated in the event: the turnout for 2005 should exceed 200 teams. Team divisions are broken into several categories, including family, corporate, high school and walker divisions. Last year's winners of the police-fire-EMS-military division were represented by the Austin Police Department.

As a third-year sponsor and two-time participant, James Allen of Washington Mutual is looking forward to the Fila Relays. "The timing of the event is perfect for those of us who have been battling the summer heat of Austin," he said. "This is a great opportunity for us to get together and have a great time while tuning up for the fall racing season."

The 2005 Fila Relays are scheduled for Saturday, September 10 at 6:30pm in what owner of RunFAR Racing Services, Raul Najera, says is a "beautiful strategy." A level one sponsor of the events, RunFar Racing Services will oversee event timing. "Texans couldn't have asked for a better pre-game event to the Texas-Ohio State game. With our company finalizing the results of the relays before the game," he joked, "we're going to be thorough, but fast."

For more information on the Fila Relays at Zilker Park, go to Run-Far.com or RunTex.com

About Fila
Fila is a leading global manufacturer of elite Italian performance apparel and footwear. Fila is a subsidiary of Sports Brands International (SBI), which creates, develops, produces and distributes sports apparel and footwear under numerous brands including Fila, Ciesse and Cloudveil Mountain Works. SBI is a privately held entity with global operations in New York; Sparks, Maryland and Milan, Italy.

Contact:
Amy Dimond, Director, Global Public Relations, (410) 773-3306
Paul Perrone, Director, Fila Running, (410) 773-3836