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As a global partner, Sahara India Pariwar will join FIH's three
global partners, BDO International, Rabobank and Samsung. Sahara
will also be getting title rights and branding opportunities at
major FIH tournaments, till the men's and women's World Cup in 2006.
The FIH, as the sole international governing body of Hockey, retains
overall responsibility for hockey worldwide, which includes the
rules of hockey, umpiring, coaching, the global development and
promotion of the sport. It also possesses the rights for all world
level hockey competitions and to sanction and stage such sporting
events.
As a result of this partnership, Sahara India Pariwar will enjoy
prominent brand visibility in other major international tournaments
like the Men’s and the Women's World Cups and Champion Trophies,
including title rights to the Men’s Champions Trophies in 2005 and
2006.
Sahara India Pariwar chairman Subrata Roy said, "Hockey is
the national game of India. We would do everything possible within
our parameters to bring back the lost glory of this game, within
our nation as well as internationally. We want to see the national
game of India prospering worldwide. This significant deal with FIH
will not only help us promote hockey as a game globally but will
also go a long way in promoting Indian hockey globally. This is
a very positive step towards a brighter future of hockey."
Global Hockey Partnership director Henk Westerlaken said, "I
am delighted that the initial success of the Global Hockey Partnership
has been capitalized upon by the consortium reaching full strength.
I look forward to welcoming Sahara personally and to working with
them to assist hockey's promotion and worldwide development."
FIH President, Els van Breda Vriesman commented, "This is
another huge step for the promotion of world hockey. Sahara India
Pariwar's involvement as a Global Partner demonstrates hockey's
ability to attract the backing of major multi-national organisations
throughout the hockey world. Coupled with the resurgent enthusiasm
in Indian hockey, with their qualification at Madrid to the Athens
Olympics, the addition of a major Indian corporation to the hockey's
Global Partnership can only strengthen hockey's renaissance in India."
The sponsorship was brokered by Leisure Sports Management (LSM)
MD S S Dasgupta. Dasgupta said, "Sahara India Pariwar, over
the years, has grown not only to become a top company in India but
also one of the very best in the whole world. As part of their global
outlook Sahara now join hands with FIH. We at LSM feel proud to
have played a significant role in this tie-up."
Established with founder members BDO International and Rabobank
at the beginning of 2003, the Global Hockey partnership began as
a sponsorship consortium of up to four partners. Samsung joined
the partnership in August last year and with Sahara; the consortium
has now reached its maximum number of places for its first term
of 2003-2006. The Global Hockey Partnership has enabled FIH to develop
a central, global sponsorship of major hockey events for the first
time in its history.
The revenue from the Global Partners sponsorship will directly
benefit host organisers of FIH’s major events and will also be used
by FIH to improve the events quality and profile, by enhancing spectator
facilities, TV production and youth activities.
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