Beverage Company Sponsors Teen Games
The Coca-Cola Company announced they will be sponsoring two FIFA youth tournaments in Europe. The first is the UEFA Youth League, which is a tournament for European nations' under-19 teams. It runs concurrent to the Champions League, and features 16 teams that are divided into four groups of four. The second is the UEFA Youth Championship which includes 16 national teams from Europe and the Near East for players under 21 years old.
Both tournaments are prestigious competitions that provide an opportunity for direct qualification to future major international senior events such as World Cups, European Championships or Olympic Games.
The Coca-Cola Company is the first sponsor for UEFA's youth tournaments. Real Madrid, Nike and Gazprom have previously sponsored the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final.
Coca-Cola has a deep history of supporting youth soccer through partnerships with multiple international federations such as the French Football Federation, the Spanish Football Federation and The FA in England.
In 2008, Coca-Cola also sponsored the inaugural UEFA Youth League tournament. Since then, it has also supported various other competitions including the Premier League International Cup in England, where over a hundred youth teams from 34 countries are competing in partnership with The Premier League.
About the UEFA Youth League
Teams from 16 European nations will compete in the U17/19 group stage of the inaugural UEFA Youth League, which begins in September 2011 and ends with a final tournament in December 2012. The best teams from four groups will then qualify for the knockout phase, where they will compete for a new trophy awarded to the champions. In addition to being one of the most prestigious domestic tournaments for national youth teams in Europe, this has also become one of the most competitive and highly valued further international competitions for participants aged 19 or under.
The first phase of competition runs from September 2011 until December 2011 and will be preceded by a qualifying phase played at Under-13 level. The top eight teams in the UEFA Youth League final tournament will qualify for the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championships, an important competition for players born in 1997, 1998 or 1999 which provides a direct route to future major international senior events.
The Coca-Cola Company has a rich history of supporting youth soccer through partnerships with numerous youth national federations, such as The FA and UEFA. These partnerships have helped create a worldwide sporting movement that has been recognized by UNESCO as "one of the best examples of grassroots football". Major events under its auspices include the FIFA World Youth Cup, FIFA Junior World Cup, International Youth Festival and Second Chance Tournament.
About UEFA's Youth Competitions
The UEFA European Under-21 Championship is considered the next step for players after the European Under-19 Championship and is open to players from the age of 21 who are not yet eligible for the senior tournament. The Youth teams of 16 national associations involved in the qualifying phase will compete for a place at this event. The best third place team in the 2012 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament will then qualify automatically for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.
The next edition of this competition will be held in Israel between 30 June and 19 July 2013, with the draw scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv on 4 December 2012.
The UEFA European Under-19 Championship acts as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA U20 World Cup and is open to players from the age of 18. The best third place team in the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship final tournament will then qualify automatically for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.
The next edition of this competition will be held in Israel between 3 June and 19 July 2013, with the draw scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv on 4 December 2012.
Coca-Cola Company & The UEFA Youth Leagues
Coca-Cola has been a longstanding partner of UEFA's youth competitions, providing sponsorship and support for over 40 competitions at both the national and international levels. Coca-Cola also provides equipment to Under-19 teams through its Jugador Programmes (Youth Player Sponsorship Programs) in countries such as England, France, Sweden, Scotland and Lithuania. As part of the programme, Coca-Cola gives its support through leagues, prizes, training sessions and coaching classes that are held throughout the year to help develop young players of all ages from the best clubs located in each country. For more information about Coca-Cola's Jugador Programme in Europe you can visit www.jugador.com .
About Coca-Cola European Partners
Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the world, with operations in 13 countries serving a population of over 400 million people. CCEP sells beverages of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) and independently-owned brands such as Fanta, Sprite and vitaminwater. CCEP is committed to helping people hydrate better for more than 60 years, which it does by encouraging people to drink more – but not too much – water.
About Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 packages in more than 200 countries. Led by Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero (formerly Tab), the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite (incl. vitaminwater), Powerade, vitaminwater (incl. vitaminwater Zero), Minute Maid (incl. new lemonade), Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, the Company is the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink tea and juices and foodservice packages. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of more than 1.6 billion servings a day. The Coca-Cola system is committed to environmental protection. Over the last 50 years, the company has provided more than $35 billion in aid for community development and other charities. More information about The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: TCCC) can be found at www.thecoca-colacompany.com .
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Coca-Cola Company : Scott Williamson, +1 706.355.0124
Oscar Zamora, +44(0) 20.74.912939 (office) / +44(0) 7826 110155 (mobile) / scottw@thecoca-colacompany.com
Coca-Cola European Partners: Gregg Lissner, +49 405818 - 4545 (office), +49 405818 - 4546 (mobile), glissner@ccep.de , http://www2.ccep.
Conclusion of agreement between UEFA and The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company announced today that it has signed with UEFA a renewal of their global partnership. The agreement runs until 2020, which effectively extends the relationship by 15 years.
"We are proud to extend our longstanding partnership with the governing body of European football," said Jens Bejerholm, President of The Coca-Cola Company in Europe. "Underpinned by our shared commitment to promote football as a catalyst for social and economic change around the globe, this new agreement is testimony to the strength and mutual respect built between us through many successful campaigns over the past 16 years.