Emirates secures major international cricket sponsorship

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 14-Feb-08, 14:30

LONDON - International airline Emirates has become an official partner of the International Cricket Council until 2015.

The sponsorship deal gives Emirates assocation with all major ICC tournaments, including the 2011 and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20.

Emirates will receive considerable media exposure through the partnership, as the airline will have prominent branding and hospitality at all the major events.

Maurice Flanagan, executive vice-chairman of Emirates Airline & Group, said: "Sport is a perfect way to communicate with our customers and cricket has an incredible global following both through the media and the enthusiastic fans at the matches.

"We look forward to strengthening our association with the game, the other commercial partners and with the ICC."

The Dubai-based airline has been involved as a sponsor of cricket for a number of years. It sponsors the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC umpires and match referees and has a partnership with Cricket Australia.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "The ICC is now based in Dubai, the ICC Global Cricket Academy is set to open this year and Dubai is a hub for teams travelling around the world. These facts make this new agreement especially appropriate."

"The ability of the ICC to attract an official partner of the calibre of Emirates is evidence of the strength of the game of cricket and the quality and variety of ICC events going through to 2015."

Emirates flies to more than 90 destinations in 60 countries.